Heroes' Welcome for Hundreds of Medics Back Home in Shanxi

20 | DISCOVER SHANXI Friday, March 27, 2020 CHINA DAILY Philanthropists sending supplies over the world

By YUAN SHENGGAO said an official of the Shanxi Feder­ ation of Returned Overseas Chi­ When the novel coronavirus nese. pneumonia recently escalated into The supplies overseas are not a pandemic, businesses and indi­ limited to Chinese expats. viduals in North China’s Shanxi Through overseas branches of province once again offered to the Shanxi Construction Invest­ help. ment Group, the Shanxi Red On March 30, a batch of medical Cross Society has delivered 3,500 supplies from Shanxi set off over­ sets of protective clothing to seas. The supplies — including Japan, South Korea, Italy and 30,000 N95 face masks and 13,200 Germany. packs of traditional Chinese medi­ In addition, the society donated cines — were sent to Chinese stu­ 6.32 million yuan ($893,600) to a dents and expatriates in more than Chinese medical rescue team in 30 countries such as Italy, the Unit­ Italy so it could buy intensive care ed Kingdom, Canada, the United unit equipment for treating local States, Brazil, Japan, Singapore patients. and Thailand. “There is no boundary for dis­ The delivery was organized by ease control, as all the countries the Shanxi Red Cross Society and in the world are a community the Shanxi Federation of Returned with a shared future,” said an Overseas Chinese, after they official with the Shanxi Red received donations from local Cross Society. companies and residents. In recent days, staff members of Zhang Yiqin, a Shanxi native the provincial Red Cross society who lives in Houston, the US, was and the federation of returned ready to receive the supplies and overseas Chinese are receiving distribute them to local Chinese more donations from local busi­ A total of 662 medics have arrived in Shanxi by March 23 after completing their rescue missions in Hubei province. SHI XIAOBO / FOR CHINA DAILY expats. nesses and residents. “We are excited to know that we However, the transnational are cared about by our folks in logistics and transportation are a Shanxi,” Zhang said on his WeChat problem due to the pandemic, account, adding that he is proud of according to local officials. Heroes’ welcome for hundreds being Chinese. “As far as we know, some of the Previously, an organization in supplies are still in China. We are Shanxi delivered 600 packs of trying our best to ensure the things TCM granules to overseas Chinese can reach recipients as quickly as for protection against the novel possible,” said a local Red Cross of medics back home in Shanxi coronavirus. official. “When our expatriates are in dif­ ficulty, it is our duty to help them,” Li Yali contributed to this story. Health workers saved more than 1,300 lives in Hubei amid coronavirus pneumonia epidemic

By YUAN SHENGGAO With tears in her eyes, Mei almost Hubei people,” said Wang Cailing, failed to complete a sentence. “I one of the leaders of the team. In recent days, a total of 662 medi­ really hate to say goodbye. But I Shanxi has dispatched 13 medi­ cal workers returned to Shanxi from know your family is waiting for you cal teams to Hubei, with 1,516 Hubei as the novel coronavirus epi­ anxiously,” Mei said. medical workers having served at demic was under control in this “Take care of yourself, my elder 11 permanent and five makeshift once hardest­hit province. sister. I’m sure we can see each oth­ hospitals. The first group of 230 medics er in the future,” Zhang answered. According to Shanxi Daily, a Tai­ went home on March 19 from their policeman saluted them when their The 662 medical workers who yuan­based newspaper, the Shanxi lifesaving mission in Hubei. The sec­ fleet of buses passed. returned home are based in hospi­ medics have cured 1,328 patients in ond batch of 432 people returned on The medics also found their tals in Taiyuan, Datong, Yuncheng, the three Hubei cities of Tianmen, March 23. smartphones filled with messages of Jincheng, Changzhi, Linfen, Yang­ Xiantao and Qianjiang. They When they landed at Wusu Inter­ gratitude from their recovered quan, Lyuliang, Jinzhong and Xinz­ includes 166 people in a critical con­ national Airport in Taiyuan, capital patients. hou. dition. of Shanxi, they were welcomed as Earlier in the morning when they The 12th medical team from In Tianmen, the last confirmed The Shanxi Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese staffers heroes by the local residents, airport left their hotels in Wuhan, Qianji­ Shanxi was the first to complete its patient was cured and discharged apply logos on the medical supplies that are ready to be delivered staffers and the police. ang, Xiantao and Tianmen cities, mission in Hubei province. On from hospital on March 21. At hospi­ overseas. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY After the medics boarded buses to the medics were sent off at farewell March 11, the last patient was trans­ tals in Xiantao and Qianjiang, 94.96 the center of Taiyuan, they were ceremonies held by their colleagues ferred to another hospital from the percent and 94.44 percent of the escorted by police cars. The gesture and local government officials in Central South Hospital Affiliated to novel coronavirus patients were was seen as the highest homage Hubei. Wuhan University where the team cured. Tourists treated to free made by locals. The fellow medics in Hubei were served. To date, there were no infections There was the same fanfare reluctant to say goodbye to their However, the 171 medical workers among the medical teams’ members when they left Hubei. On the comrades with whom they had in the team volunteered to continue from Shanxi, according to the news­ entry at top attractions roads to Tianhe International Air­ worked for almost two months. at the Leishenshan Hospital, a paper. port in Wuhan, capital of Hubei On the morning of March 19, makeshift hospital dedicated to A total of 854 medical workers province, the medics noticed there Zhang Lihui, head of a rescue team to treating novel coronavirus pneumo­ from Shanxi are still working in By YUAN SHENGGAO Kangxi when he visited Shanxi, the were posters with words of Wuhan, found it difficult to release nia patients. Hubei, continuing their efforts in scale of the residence is among the thanks. her hands, which were held tightly by “I am proud of the dedication of local epidemic control. Jincheng, a city in the southeast largest of all officials’ residences in People lined the road, singing Mei Hongbin, president of Wuhan our guys as they did a great job liv­ of Shanxi, is offering the largest­ China. their best wishes. Every traffic Youfu Hospital where she had served. ing up to the expectations of the Li Yali contributed to this story. ever incentive package to tourists, Covering 36,580 square meters, as part of its efforts to overcome the complex has 16 courtyards and the negative influence of the novel 640 rooms. coronavirus epidemic, which is During the past three centu­ Restorative teas to brew up wealth in rural areas now under control in the province. ries, the residence was also used During a news conference held as a fortress to fend off attacks on March 30, the city government from bandits and rebels, with its By YUAN SHENGGAO more than 100 herbs to determine announced that Jincheng’s 25 solid city walls and high watch which can be used for curing illness­ major tourist attractions can be towers. Authorities in Shanxi have es. In this practice he was poisoned visited for free from that date. Impressive monuments and sce­ pinned high hopes on herbal teas to by some toxic plants but his life was The incentive package also nic spots in this tourist destination revitalize the rural economy in the saved by drinking certain herbal includes 5 million yuan ($707,000) include an imposing stone arch­ province. teas. worth of coupons for tourists to way with exquisite engravings, Lou Yangsheng, Party secretary of Wang Cheng, vice­governor of cover spending in destinations, well­decorated rooms, classical the province, and Shanxi Governor Shanxi who was also at the promo­ free expressway passes for self­ gardens, an ancestral temple and a Lin Wu attended a promotional fair tional fair, said in Shanxi, as the driving tourists and discounts for private school. for local herbal teas in Tiayuan on homeland of Shennong, herbal teas tourism products and services. Chen’s family nurtured a num­ March 20, where local products have been brewed and drunk for Huangcheng Xiangfu, the most ber of scholars and high­ranking were showcased to consumers at thousands of years. renowned destination among the officials during the past 300 years, home and abroad. Cities like Changzhi, Jincheng 25, is also open for free. including nine scholars qualified Lou, who calls himself a “brand­ and Linfen are traditional bases for Huangcheng Xiangfu, which lit­ in the highest imperial examina­ ing envoy” for Shanxi’s herbal teas, herbal tea production. erally means “imperial prime min­ tion and six advisers to emperors. said the products which have local The production of herbal teas in ister’s residence”, is located in A tour of the residence is a study geographic indications should be Shanxi shares some similarity with Huangcheng village of Yangcheng of the history of ancient Chinese promoted to more people as they traditional tea making in the rest of county. scholars and officials, as well as are “good for health and conducive the country, including such tech­ It was the residence of Chen local culture and architecture. to a high quality of life”. niques as drying, baking and fer­ Tingjing, a renowned prime min­ To help tourists understand the “The production of the teas is menting. ister during the Qing Dynasty unique history of the site, a live per­ based on the selection of genuine However, unlike traditional teas (1644­1911). formance is held every morning, medical herbs growing in Shanxi that use tea leaves as their ingredi­ Chen was the teacher of Emper­ with actors and actresses perform­ and time­honored techniques that ents, many parts of herbs, including or Kangxi and had been the coun­ ing various rituals and ceremonies require great human efforts. And leaves, fruits, stems and roots can be try’s prime minister for about half in Qing Dynasty costumes. the preparation of the teas repre­ used for making herbal teas in a century. sents an art form that is similar to Shanxi. As it offered accommodation to Li Yali contributed to this story. the traditional tea ceremony pop­ Some of the herbal teas can help ular in China and Japan,” Lou clear away heat and toxic substan­ said. ces, while others are good for immu­ The Party chief said developing nity, sleep or digestion, according to the herbal tea industry, which is Wang. expected to become one of the pil­ Shanxi’s herbal teas are made lars of rural economy in Shanxi, is of Top: A medical herb farm in Nanliang township in Yicheng using such herbs as sea buckthorn, great significance in boosting rural county. HU BO / FOR CHINA DAILY Above: A business representative wolf berry, mulberry and chrysan­ growth and helping farmers displays his herbal tea products during a promotional fair in themum. increase incomes. Taiyuan. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY According to Qiao Jianjun, chief The Shanxi Herbal Tea Industrial of the Shanxi Agriculture and Rural Alliance was established during the their trademarks and design corpo­ “The history of Shanxi herbal teas Affairs Department, there are more fair. Governor Lin unveiled the rate identities, according to officials can be traced back to the Red than 100 enterprises engaged in the plaque for the association. of the alliance. Emperor or Shennong, the legend­ production of herbal tea products, The alliance will be responsible Lou said he is confident of the ary emperor who pioneered China’s with more than 220 varieties sold for the promotion of herbal tea market potential of the tea products farming and medical industries,” both domestically and overseas. products, drafting industrial stan­ of Shanxi because it has a long histo­ Lou said. Huangcheng Xiangfu in Jincheng city is among the largest of all dards and helping members register ry and many health benefits. It is said that Shennong tasted Guo Yanjie contributed to this story. officials’ residences in China. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

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