Chinese Premier Li Qiang visits Tangshan to mark 50th anniversary of 1976 earthquake

On July 28, Chinese Premier Li Qiang travelled to Tangshan, Hebei province, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the July 28, 1976 earthquake that killed about 242,000 people. He arrived at the Tangshan Earthquake Memorial Park, laid a wreath on behalf of the Central Committee and State Council, and performed three bows at the memorial wall as required by protocol. In a speech he stressed the importance of putting people’s lives first, strengthening disaster monitoring, early‑warning, emergency response and reconstruction mechanisms, and continuing to safeguard public safety.

The visit, reportedly carried out at the direction of General Secretary Xi Jinping, highlighted the city’s recovery from the devastation, noting that Tangshan has been rebuilt into a modern industrial city over the past half‑century. The ceremony underscored the Chinese government’s focus on disaster preparedness and remembrance of the tragic event.