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At first the gash of freshly turned earth looks like one of the hundreds of landslides triggered by China's massive earthquake. But the incense sticks and half-burnt candles along the road hint at a hidden purpose.
The scar on the hillside has become a mass grave for the victims of the disaster. A line of young soldiers, their faces covered by blue masks against the stench of decomposing bodies, stand guard. More troops, their uniforms protected by blue plastic coats, squat at the foot of the slope, waiting for the next grim delivery.
“The authorities asked us to bury them quickly because they have been dead for several days. There is no time to wait. It's already been quite a long time and now the weather is starting to get warmer,” an official said.
A digger had be2en brought in to cut a path up the hill and carve out three trenches, each about 50 metres (160ft) long and more than 1.5 metres deep. One trench had already been filled.
Officials refused to say how many bodies had been buried or how many they expected to receive. “How many will be buried here we don't know yet,” one said. They hope to ensure the health of the living while respecting the dead.
The site chosen for the grave is a disused lime kiln on the edge of Libin village. It stands at the foot of the line of jagged hills in which tens of thousands have died around the epicentre of the tremor that shook China on Monday. Yesterday the offical toll was raised to 22,069. A further 14,000 were missing in Sichuan province, which bore the brunt of the quake.
An army officer explained that the soldiers' task was to line the grave with lime and then lay in the bodies. More lime was then thrown over and it was sprayed with disinfectant. But the officer hoped that it would not be an anonymous grave and that one day the bodies could be claimed by relatives - if any have survived.
A photograph was taken of each body. Hair and blood samples were recorded to enable DNA identification later. Mortuaries and hospitals in the area are already overwhelmed. In some areas there is insufficient electricity to provide power to keep the bodies. There is no option but a swift burial, with as much dignity as possible, in a land plunged into grief.
A doctor speaking on the special radio channel devoted to the disaster explained the need to dispose of the bodies as quickly as possible. The site should be well away from water sources, and bodies should be disinfected and buried with lime to prevent the spread of disease.
The soldiers working at the mass grave, a handful from the more than 130,000 People's Liberation Army troops deployed, were nervous.
They were under orders to keep away anyone trying to pry as the bodies were brought in. One young man who had been deployed from the air force in the central city of Wuhan, said: “It's dangerous here. And we are very busy. No one can come in.”
A young farmer working nearby shrugged when asked if he was afraid to have such a large grave on a hillside so close to his home. “What is the point of being frightened? They have to be buried somewhere after all, and there are so many of them.”
Thousands more bodies are believed to be still lying entombed in the ruins of their homes and schools, offices and factories. But amid the tragedy there are still glimmers of hope.
Exactly 100 hours after the massive earthquake at 2.28pm on Monday, cheering soldiers pulled a survivor from the wreckage of a fertiliser plant in Yunhua.
Liu Deyun should not even have been in the Yinfeng Fertiliser Plant when the earthquake struck: the 50-year-old driver had been due to make just a quick delivery. But when the building crumpled he was chatting in the games room.
His incredible rescue, witnessed by The Times, began when an army medical team picking through the ruins on Thursday afternoon heard sounds of life. To their amazement, they were able to speak to the trapped driver.
His daughter, Liu Yuanyuan, had gone to search for him a day earlier but was told not to bother and to go home. She returned when she heard that survivors had been found.
“I talked to my father. I called out: 'Daddy' and he wept and said: 'I want water'. I told him not to talk and to preserve his strength for the rescue. He said that he could not move at all.”
His body was pinned down by such huge concrete slabs that doctors had to amputate a part of one leg to free him.
A military doctor, Zhao Hongxiu, said: “We discussed with him that we would have to operate. He agreed that the most important thing was to save his life.” Workers at the plant said they feared that more than 200 people were buried in the rubble. Soldiers sprayed disinfectant over the debris to cover the stench of rotting bodies.
Even as soldiers cheered at the rescue of Mr Liu, rescue teams were burrowing into the other side of the building. Three men who had been playing mahjong together were still alive.
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it is a tragedy
Suee, NanJing, China
a little truth much prejudice
dujiang , hangzhou, China
I am very sad about this earthquake, and we are willing to do any help you want. I have many friends in China , and as a Sri Lankan, that I do not know how should i help the victims. Please tell me, dear sisters/brothers what can i do for you. I will fly to china... if any ...
Ranjan...
Duminda, Colombo, Sri Lanka
We need
In a world full of confusion
We need to act as a union
In a place lacking love and care
We need to learn give and share
In a room where theres no extra air
We need to build an extra square
In our hearts full of pain and grief
We need to help and find some relief
Love to Sichuan
Roxy, Vienna, Austria
We are all sad and concerned about the earthquake this week, and are contributing to the disaster areas now. During the rescue the first 72 hours is the most important time, and I think only the army can act as quickly as it. And they did well.
ru, Guangzhou, China
Sichuan,hold on!
We can get through all the adversities.
Kitty, Changchun,
I think UK and Brown should provied more help to survivers of the earthquake.China need professional help like Japan and Korean,Maybe UK also have that kind of equipment.Also thanks the help from UK and money the UK goverment donate.
lee, Shenyang, China
Chinese spirit is really high far more beyond people could expected, especially when face to fatal disasters. But we should not forget the regard no matter from nation wide or overseas. their endorsement make Sichuan people never loose their hope, pray for those lost their lives in the earthquake
luc chen, Shanghai, China
2008 is destined to be a unforgettable year for china. Right before chinese new year, there cames a huge snowstorm and then a riot in Lhasa, now is the huge earthquake. but i believe, with all our chinese united, with our fortitude and hardiness, we chinese will never be defeated by any difficulties
gavinduan, Changsha, china
Sichuan has become the source of my pride although I am thousands of miles away from you.
I am so proud to be a Chinese for the first time.
ls, Atlanta, USA
I believe that the Chinese people will get through all the tasks,yes,they will ! God bless all the people in China
Cici, LONDON, UK
The Chinese peoples spirit helping each other when one is in the disaster touches my heart deeply. The world should see that money ,blood and other materials are sent to Sichuan volunteerly. The Times should report the touching stories happened in the earthquake to spread the Chinese culture.
Sophie, Huzhou, China
Sichuan has a population in excess of 85 million. While the province as a whole is not densely populated, it is concentrated in the east lowlands. The epicenter of the quake was along the mountains at the very edge of this area.
darren, mianyang,
Lim in Malaysia, Sichuan Province is one of China's most densely populated provinces with a population of 90 million.
Tina, Dublin, Ireland
This is the reality and people need our help. I lived in China for 4 years and have a great regard for China and her people and this is indeed a tragedy. While I am here I just want to remind everyone not to forget Burma - nothing short of murder; the junta make the CPC look like angels.
Kat, Thailand,
Western nations need to make many tents and store many medical supplies and much food.
If you dont know why then read Luke chapter 21 in the Bibles New Testament and the Book of Revelation.
Jesus Christ said that in the last days there would be many wars, eathquakes, famines and diseases.
G. Gibson, Sydney, Australia
chen, wu xi, China
I agree with u. 5000000 is too big a figure. Sichuan is mountainous place and not densely populated. Wonder what is the actual population of Sichuan. Further not every building have been toppled. Nevertheless, it is still a huge task for the people and government to rebuild.
Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Having said that it is a huge task to rebuild, what is important now is to save as many survivors as possible. I believe and have confident that d Chinese Govt. and people will eventually come out on top of the disaster and rebuild Sichuan befitting the spirit n needs of a brave people. Go China go.
Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
western media always observing china with so much prejudice,but you what you ain't know is we all belong to a family with a history of more than 2000 years.
you don't understand what chinese thinking,we are not barbarian,we are a civilized country which founded 2000 years ago
yu, wuhan,
There is nothing ambiguous in the headline. Mass graves are being used to bury the tragically dead. And 5 million people will be homeless. A disaster. Make sure that you give generously to the Chinese Red Cross to help.
Richard, Tianjin, China
we chinese university students are doing what we can do! our blood and our money! the chinese will never be defeated!
yehaibo, nanjing, china
I believe we can come over all the disaster and misfortune!
Because we are all together. We are a family!
ZY, Henan, China
we are family we belong together
kl, zhuhai , china
5 million became homeless? are you kidding me?It's ridiculous.
chen, wu xi, China
Indeed, this is a gigantic & horrible task China has to face. What can you do with so many dead bodies, not identifiable at the time and decomposing fast? And sadly, more are coming. What choices have you? What is the best that should be done? Anyone with an answer. Please help.
Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
The Chinese peoples spirit helping each other when one is in the disaster touches my heart deeply. The world should see that money ,blood and other materials are sent to Sichuan volunteerly. The Times should report the touching stories happened in the earthquake to spread the Chinese culture.
Sophie, Huzhou,
Hold on, China!
I believe and I love you!
Ralph, liaoning , China
More prejudice than truth!
Houbo Wong, Chengdu,
Please disambiguate the headline.
It's a very serious subject, and I'm not poking fun at your editors. I just don't think they read it before publishing.
Dave, Fresno, USA
I believe the Chinese willl not be defeat by the disaster!
Yifu shi, shenzhen, China