a major earthquake measuring 8.0 richter scale attacked wenchuan county of sichuan province at 14:28:04 on 12 may 2008. the epicenter of the quake was located 31.0 degrees north latitude and 103.4 degrees east longitude. it is believed to be the largest earthquake since 1949.
you may never heard about wenchuan befor 12 may 2008, but the word "wenchuan earthquake" will never be forgotten by the chinese people. 2008年5月19日至21日期间，全国和各驻外机构下半旗志哀，停止公共娱乐活动，外交部和我国驻外使领馆设立吊唁簿。5月19日14时28分起，全国人民默哀3分钟，届时汽车、火车、舰船鸣笛，防空警报鸣响。
from may 19 through 21, all national flags will fly at half-mast at home and chinese diplomatic missions abroad. during this period, all public amusement will be suspended, and condolence books will be opened in china's foreign ministry and chinese embassies and consulates around the world. at 2:28 p.m. 19 may, chinese citizens nationwide will stand in silence for three minutes to mourn for the victims, while air raid sirens and horns of automobiles, trains and ships will wail in grief.
in many disaster films, helicopter is the first choice for rescue activity, and it is more grand today. as the hope of life, a helicopter is often called a "lucky bird".
this day is among the saddest ones which we could count by our hands in new china's history. the determination of converting sorrows into strength of all the chinese people are rising:"china,come on!""sichuan,come on!" no matter how future will be, the terrible disaster which happened this day ,will give the 70s,80s,and 90s a good lessen.
能直升直落及在空中停留的航空器，螺旋桨装在机身的上部，作水平方向旋转，可在小面积场地起落。
an air craftwhich which can take off and land vertically in a small area without the need for runways. the propellers is installed in the top of the helicopter, circumrotate flatly.
on 18 may 2008,the sate council of china declared the three days between 19th to 21st of may are set as official days of deeply mourning for quake victims. 重大自然灾害中紧急救援的常用方式，常带给受灾人们获救的无限希望，也被老百姓尊称为“吉祥鸟” 。
a common rescue way in great nature disasters, which brings suffers great hope, also called "lucky bird".
running from eveywhere, women and men, olds and youngs, all fell on their knees toward the helicopter. the olds are crying and murmuring:"it's the lucky bird. we are saved."--from sichuan news
fly a flag at half-mast
例句
汶川地震哀悼日全国降半旗志哀。
flags were at half mast everywhere on the day of mourning for victims of wenchuan earthquake.
how does a life survive an earthquake, especilly in the first 72 hours: dark, fear, hunger, hope,then lose hope and regain hope; in another point, worry, chagrin, then pray, boldness... everyone is racing with the "72 hours", as it goes on...
时间单位，指3个平均太阳日。
unit of time, 3 mean solar days.
① 地震等重大自然灾害发生后抢救生命的黄金时间，也被冠以生命的“黄金72小时”。
the golden time in saving lives after nature disasters as earthquake, also called "golden seventy-two hours".
sample:we all konw about golden seventy-two hours of saving lives, but we would rather believe the waiting ,persisting and perseverance of life after seventy-two hours
sample:the golden 72 hours! lives are waiting, the rescue is extending. love, sadness, moving, adamancy, braveness...are complecting and eulogizing the life.
网络公祭
show respect to the quake victims on the internet website
"today, we are all wenchuan people",these words are spread over the country. donation, material supporting, praying and cares about wenchuan every minute...all these are the activity to show ones capability to be a "wenchuan people".
出生在汶川、拥有汶川户籍的人。
people who were born in wenchuan and own a registered permanent residence inwenchuan.
汶川县发生重大地震后，时刻牵挂当地灾民，决心帮助汶川当地人民度过难关的善良的人们。
people who care the suffers after the earthquake, and determine to help the local people in this hardest time.
sample: ''we are all wenchuan people", the earthquake is cared by the whole nation, and the pains of people who are suffering is also the pain of all people.--from the netease