Yushu Earthquake, 12 days later

Wednesday, April 21st was a national day of mourning in China, for victims of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck remote Yushu County on April 14th, 2010 with over 2,200 confirmed dead and many thousands injured or homeless. The response on the ground has moved from search and rescue to recovery and care, hampered by geography and weather. The political response is also complex, as official Chinese coverage has emphasized solidarity in crisis despite a long-troubled relationship with the ethnic Tibetan residents. Buddhist monks who had been assisting with relief efforts were asked by Chinese authorities to halt their work last week, some monks complaining it was for political motives, officials claiming it was for safety reasons. The bodies of hundreds of victims were cremated on April 17th, necessity forcing local Tibetans to break with a tradition of leaving their dead out for vultures. (33 photos total)

A Tibetan monk gestures as other monks lay corpses for a mass cremation of earthquake victims in the town of Gyegu in Yushu County, Qinghai province, China on April 17, 2010. (REUTERS/Alfred Jin)

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Ethnic Tibetans search for belongings amid the debris of collapsed houses in the earthquake-hit town of Gyegu, China on April 16, 2010. (REUTERS/Carlf Zhang) #

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An overview of the earthquake-hit township of Gyegu in China's northwestern province of Qinghai on April 19, 2010. (LIU JIN/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Tibetan monks attend a mass prayer for earthquake victims in the quake-hit Gyegu town on April 22, 2010. (REUTERS/Kevin Zhao) #

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A man carries his son as they make their way back to their tent at a makeshift camp during a snowfall in Gyegu, Yushu county, China on April 22, 2010. Fierce winds and heavy snow hit China's quake zone, state media said, complicating relief work and bringing more misery to survivors camped outside after their homes collapsed. (AFP/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Buddha statues are wrapped up after they were salvaged from a destroyed Tibetan monastery in Gyegu, China on April 20, 2010. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Ethnic Tibetans injured in Wednesday's earthquake rest on a plane bound for medical facilities in Xining, at the airport in Gyegu town, China, Saturday, April 17, 2010. (AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan) #

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Ethnic Tibetans queue to receive supplementary materials at the earthquake-hit Gyegu town of Yushu County, Qinghai province on April 22, 2010. (REUTERS/Kevin Zhao) #

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Four-year-old girl Cairen Baji is carried by a rescue worker after she and an elderly woman were dug out from a collapsed mud house near Gyegu town on Monday, April 19, 2010. Relatives had kept Wujian Cuomao, 68, and Cairen Baji alive for five days by sending them food and water through gaps in the rubble with the help of bamboo poles, state broadcaster CCTV said. (AP Photo) #

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Children mourn for victims of the April 14 Yushu County, Qinghai province earthquake, during a photo opportunity at a kindergarten in Jinan, Shandong province, April 20, 2010. (REUTERS/Stringer) #

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People use a generator to charge their mobile phones after a blackout in Yushu County, China on Saturday, April 17, 2010. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) #

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Rescuers work to remove dead horses buried under a collapsed stable in Yushu County, China on April 17, 2010. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) #

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A young quake survivor uses a mobile phone in an attempt to reach relatives in Gyegu, Yushu County, on April 18, 2010. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A medical staff member disinfects religious figurines at a destroyed monastery in earthquake-hit Yushu County April 19, 2010. (REUTERS/Stringer) #

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The Dalai Lama, Tibetan spiritual leader, speaks during a press conference in Dharmsala, India, Saturday, April 17, 2010. The Dalai Lama said Saturday that he would like to visit western China's quake-hit Yushu county, which is overwhelmingly Tibetan. He also said that he was born in Qinghai province where the earthquake was centered. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia) #

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A sick woman is helped by her relatives as the walk towards a temporary clinic set up to up quake victims in Gyegu on April 17, 2010. (LIU JIN/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Tibetan monks walk past destroyed houses in Gyegu town on April 19, 2010. (REUTERS/Stringer) #

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Chinese President Hu Jintao, (center right, facing left), is greeted upon his arrival in a temporary hospital at Gyegu town on Sunday, April 18, 2010. Hu flew to the remote, mountainous Tibetan region devastated by an earthquake as the flow of rescue supplies picked up pace. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) #

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Rescuers stop work and observe three minutes of silence at 10:00 am (0200 GMT), in silent tribute to the quake victims, in Gyegu, China on April 21, 2010. China observed a day of national mourning for victims of its killer quake, with newspaper front pages bathed in black and flags lowered to half-mast around the country. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) #

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People sift through earthquake devastation in Gyegu, China on April 17, 2010. (LIU JIN/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Children huddle together as they take shelter from strong winds in the quake-hit Gyegu town on Monday April 19, 2010. (AP Photo) #

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Locals take bottled water provided by a monastery in quake-hit Gyegu town on April 18, 2010. (REUTERS/Stringer) #

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Tibetans attend a mass prayer for the earthquake victims in the quake-hit Gyegu town on April 19, 2010. (REUTERS/Kevin Zhao) #

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Tibetan monks throw a body onto a large pile of bodies of earthquake victims, in preparation for a mass cremation in Yushu County, on Saturday, April 17, 2010. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) #

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Tibetan residents sit on a hillside to observe a mass cremation of victims of the massive earthquake in Yushu County on April 17, 2010. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) #

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A Tibetan cries during a mass cremation of victims of the recent earthquake in Yushu County, China on April 17, 2010. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) #

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Praying Tibetan monks seen through flames, distorted by the heat shimmer above the mass cremation of victims of the earthquake in Yushu County on April 17, 2010. (AP Photo) #

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A Tibetan monk conducts a ceremony at the site of a mass cremation in the town of Gyegu on April 18, 2010. (REUTERS/Alfred Jin) #

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People inspect earthquake damaged buildings in Gyegu, on April 17, 2010. (LIU JIN/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A young Buddhist monk makes a face while he cooks food for quake survivors at Gyegu town in west China's Qinghai province on April 17, 2010. (AP Photo) #

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Tibetan children sit inside their temporary makeshift school as they wait for their class to start in Yushu county, China on Monday, April 19, 2010. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) #

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Asian artists including Hong Kong movie star Sammo Hung, Andy Lau and Jackie Chan perform during a charity show "Artistes 414 Fundraising Campaign" for the victims of the earthquake in Yushu county in northwest China's Qinghai province, in Hong Kong Monday, April 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) #

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A girl rests on a couch amid ruins in Gyegu town, China on April 18, 2010. (REUTERS/Stringer) #

Shanghai's Expo nearly ready

Organizers of Shanghai's World Expo have been holding trial runs this week, before the official opening this Saturday, May 1st. About 70 percent of the nearly 200 participants participated in the trials, and visitors were already encountering long lines. Officials now estimate the 6-month event, themed "Better City, Better Life", will attract up to 100 million visitors, 95 percent of them Chinese. Shanghai has spent 400 billion yuan (58.6 billion US dollars) preparing for the Expo, according to state media - more than was spent on the Beijing Olympics. Collected here are photographs of last-minute preparations in Shanghai as they prepare to welcome the world this weekend. (37 photos total)

Visitors gather in front of a huge animated baby mannequin displayed in the Spanish pavilion at the site of the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai on April 25, 2010. Expo organizers gave members of the public a preview of the largest-ever World's Fair as they tested facilities and public transportation before the official start on May 1. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

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A visitor stands at the South Korea Pavilion at the World Expo site on the trial day Friday, April 23, 2010 in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) #

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Visitors walk past the illuminated Expo Axis of Sunshine Valley on the first day of the trial run of the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, China, on Tuesday, April 20, 2010. (Qilai Shen/Bloomberg) #

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Visitors stand outside the U.K. Pavilion, known as the "Seed Cathedral," at the site of the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, China, on Wednesday, April 14, 2010. (Kevin Lee/Bloomberg) #

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A man takes a picture inside the British pavilion at the World Expo 2010 site in Shanghai on April 14, 2010. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A visitor examines a seed encased in acrylic inside the U.K. Pavilion, known as the "Seed Cathedral," at the site of the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, China, on Wednesday, April 14, 2010. (Kevin Lee/Bloomberg) #

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A night view shows the Serbia pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo site April 23, 2010. (REUTERS/Stringer) #

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A general view of the panorama of Shanghai and the Huangpu River from the top floor of Shanghai World Financial Center (492 meters high) in the Pudong Lujiazui Financial District on April 17, 2010 in Shanghai, China. (Feng Li/Getty Images) #

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Workers attach a logo in Chinese characters meaning the United States at the USA Pavilion at the World Expo site on the trial day Sunday, April 25, 2010 in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) #

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Journalists gather at the US pavilion for a press preview at the site of the World expo 2010 in Shanghai on April 7, 2010. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A worker stands at the wall of the South Korea pavilion at the World Expo site in Shanghai, China, Wednesday, April 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) #

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In this April 11, 2010 photo, Shanghai Automotive Group Co., Ltd. (SAIC) debuts the Ye Zi or Leaf concept car at the World Expo in Shanghai. (AP Photo) #

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Fireworks explode over the site of World Expo during a rehearsal for the opening ceremony in Shanghai, China on April 27, 2010. (AP Photo) #

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Visitors outside the Danish pavilion take photos of Denmark's iconic Little Mermaid statue after it was unveiled at Shanghai World Expo site April 25, 2010. (REUTERS/Aly Song) #

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Denmark's famed Little Mermaid statue is displayed after it was unveiled in Denmark Pavilion at the World Expo site on the trial day Sunday, April 25, 2010 in Shanghai, China. The 5-foot (1.5-meter) statue honoring Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen left Copenhagen Harbor for first time in 97 years for Shanghai's Expo which opens May 1. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) #

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Lead architect of the Danish pavilion, Bjarke Ingels rides a bicycle on its roof at the site of the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai on April 25, 2010. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Workers assemble a wall part of the Latvia Pavilion at the World Expo site on the trial day Sunday, April 25, 2010 in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) #

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A night view shows the Russia pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo site April 23, 2010. (REUTERS/Stringer) #

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An aerial view shows vehicles traveling on newly-lit intersections at night in Shanghai in this March 28, 2010 photo. (REUTERS/Shanghai Pacific Institute for International Strategy) #

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Riot policemen take part in a swearing-in ceremony at a security meeting for the upcoming Shanghai World Expo 2010 in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province April 10, 2010. (REUTERS/Stringer) #

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Paramilitary policemen take part in a drill in preparation for the security of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, in Nanjing, Jiangsu province April 26, 2010. (REUTERS/Stringer) #

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Two performers practice at the World Expo site in Shanghai, China, Wednesday, April 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan) #

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Performers dressed as traditional Chinese Terra Cotta Warriors march during an event as part of the Shanghai Expo to promote tourism to Xi'an, Shaanxi province, in Shanghai, China, Saturday, April 10, 2010. (AP Photo) #

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A man walks past the Polish pavilion at the site of the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai on April 27, 2010. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images) #

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An aerial view shows the French Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo site in Shanghai March 28, 2010. (REUTERS/Shanghai Pacific Institute for International Strategy) #

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A performer prepares for a rehearsal in Beijing on April 26, 2010 for their performance in the first week of the upcoming Shanghai 2010 World Expo. Along with daily parades, fireworks and other festivities, the Shanghai World Expo's 192 participating countries are contributing to a six-month calendar of music, dance and stage shows. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A Chinese worker stands on the top of the pavilion of Iceland at the site of the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai on April 7, 2010. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Farmer Wu Yulu, 48, operates his walking robot near his home in a village at the outskirts of Beijing April 14, 2010. Hobby inventor Wu, who started to build robots in 1986, has invented 47 robots that can perform different functions like jumping, painting, drinking, pulling carts, massaging and helping with cooking. He will display more than 30 of his robots during the Shanghai World Expo 2010, where he hopes to promote the practical uses of his robots. (REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic) #

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A child poses for her mother in front of the China Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo site April 25, 2010. (REUTERS/Aly Song) #

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An aerial view shows Shanghai's new financial district skyline along the Huang Pu river at night in Shanghai in this March 28, 2010 photo. (REUTERS/Shanghai Pacific Institute for International Strategy) #

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Visitors walk past the Shanghai Corporate Pavilion, known as the Dream Cube, in Shanghai on April 26, 2010. Multi-nationals are seizing on the six-month event beginning May 1 to build their brand presence in the market of 1.3 billion people, but also the business and government connections - or "guanxi" - crucial to making money in China. (AFP/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A visitor takes photos of a 3D-projected image of a Terracotta Warrior jade burial suit in the Aurora Pavilion as organizers of Shanghai's World Expo gave members of the public a preview of the massive event in Shanghai on April 26, 2010. (AFP/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A project model shows a possible future transport system in the Pavilion of Future as organizers of Shanghai's World Expo gave members of the public a preview of the massive event in Shanghai on April 26, 2010. (AFP/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Visitors walk past the "Information and Communications Pavilion," built by China Mobile Ltd. and China Telecom Corp., in Shanghai, China, on Monday, April 19, 2010. (Qilai Shen/Bloomberg) #

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The North Korean pavilion is seen, next to the Iranian pavilion (right) at the site of the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai on April 27, 2010. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Elevated highways are illuminated by LED lights on April 18, 2010 in Shanghai, China. (Feng Li/Getty Images) #

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A Chinese worker peers from behind a wall surrounding the UK pavilion at the site of the World expo 2010 in Shanghai on April 7, 2010. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images) #