Rendering of Beichuan National Earthquake Museum. A national museum featuring the destruction of Beichuan county in Sichuan province in the 8.0-magnitude earthquake on May 12 last year will open in four years.

Beichuan, the town that came to symbolize the terrible destruction wrought by the May 12 earthquake, will be opened to former residents during the Qingming festival and on the anniversary of the earthquake, to allow them to mourn for victims, the Beichuan Qiang Ethnic Autonomous County Office said on March 29.

The site will be open from 7 AM to 7 PM from April 1 to 4, and from May 10 to 12. Beichuan residents will be allowed in on production of an ID card.

The Beichuan government is to provide a free bus service to transport mourners to the site. The government will also disinfect the area as a precaution against infection before people are allowed in.

Only the special buses, police cars, ambulances and official vehicles will be allowed into the area during the open days.

(China.org.cn by Wu Huanshu, March 31, 2009)