Wuxi tour group helps out rescue work in quake zone

A tour group from Wuxi rescued five women during the earthquake that struck Sichuan province on August 8. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A tour group from Wuxi rescued five women during the earthquake that struck Sichuan province on August 8.

The group of 23 tourists from Wuxi had driven for a week across China to see the famous Jiuzhaigou Valley, a beautiful mountain range near the Tibetan Plateau.

But on their first night in Jiuzhaigou, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake rocked the valley, cutting off the power and shaking the hotel violently.

The tourists ran screaming with fear to their fleet of six Jeeps, and found five fellow travellers crying outside the hotel.

"We hoped to take them out of the quake zone, though we could scarcely guarantee our safety at that time, given that we would run into more dangers on the way," said Zhao Haiyue, the leader of the tour group.

Since the five women had no other way to get to safety, the drivers decided to offer them a lift. As they had left all their belongings in the hotel, the warm-hearted Wuxi natives even paid for their accommodation.

"I lost contact with our tour guide after the earthquake. I really appreciate that the Jeeps came to our rescue," said Ye Na, one of the women rescued.