At 14:28 CST(GMT+8) on May 12, 2008, a magnitude-8.0 earthquake struck beneath a mountainous region in south-central China, toppling buildings and sending landslides crashing into cities, resulting in nearly 90,000 deaths (the actual deaths were far greater). The 2008 Sichuan earthquake (also called the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake) became even more infamous for exposing the cheap and inferior construction methods used in schools across the region, which left thousands of children dead and injured.

On the 14th at 4pm, we followed the "Sany Group Volunteer Earthquake Rescue Team" aboard the last flight to Chengdu, Sichuan, and then transferred by bus to the town of Pingtong, about 160km from the epicenter, at around 4am on the 15th. Due to the mountainous and loose geology, along with constant aftershocks, most of the roads and bridges were collapsed, we could only travel on foot and by SANY rescue equipment to reach deep into the most severely impacted areas. From Pingtong town of Pingwu County, via Nanba town, Juyuan town, Dujiangyan city, Hanwang town of Mianzhu city, Gaochuan village and Jushui town of An county, where we returned to Mianyang for resupply on the 25th.