BEICHUAN, Sichuan -- Near the Beichuan old county town, destroyed in last year's May 12 earthquake, Gong Shuqing opens her booth selling ethnic Qiang knick-knacks to tourists.
People lament over their deceased relatives in May 12 Sichuan Earthquake, in Beichuan, a quake-jolted county of southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 2, 2009. [Xinhua]
In the run-up to the first anniversary of the quake, the ruins, including Beichuan, are becoming tourist attractions.
Qingchuan, another quake-torn county in Sichuan Province, opened the first earthquake theme park, Donghekou, on November 12, and in the five months since has received 250,000 visitors.
according to the provincial tourism bureau. The so-called quake ruins tourism
brought 1.87 billion yuan (US$28 million) to the province
The tourists, however, have also triggered controversy on the Internet.
"Making the disaster-hit area a place of entertainment is disrespectful to the dead, and will hurt their families deeply," said one posting.
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