On July 28, 1976, at 3:42 AM, while the people of Tangshan slept soundly under the cover of night, disaster struck this city, often referred to as the \"cradle of China's modern industry.\" The catastrophic event that unfolded was the Tangshan Earthquake, a devastating natural disaster that shook the world and resulted in untold loss of life and property for the Chinese people. The earthquake was a tragedy of monumental proportions, with its impact still echoing through history.
At 8:00 AM that morning, shortly after an emergency meeting on the earthquake’s aftermath, the former Tangshan city party secretary, Wu De, asked, “Where is the building the British constructed for the Kailuan Mining Bureau?” The building, with walls a full meter thick and constructed with great sturdiness, was designed to withstand the test of time. Upon hearing that it had collapsed, Wu De solemnly remarked, “Tangshan is no more. It no longer exists.”
The Greatest Natural Disaster in Modern History
The earthquake, which registered a magnitude of 7.8, unleashed energy comparable to 400 Hiroshima atomic bomb explosions. There were no preliminary tremors to warn the people, and it struck when they were least prepared. In a span of just 23 seconds, the entire city of Tangshan was virtually reduced to rubble. According to Qian Gang’s The Tangshan Earthquake, the seismic waves were so powerful that they could be felt across vast regions—extending from Harbin in the north, to Bengbu in Anhui and Qingjiang in Jiangsu to the south, and all the way to the borders of Northeast China and the Bohai Bay islands in the east. The shockwaves reached the entire globe at a speed and manner imperceptible to the human senses.
The city of Tangshan was as if it had been trampled by a herd of giant beasts—buildings collapsed, roads cracked open, and people scattered in all directions, yet the chaos left them nowhere to escape. Eyewitness accounts tell of how, in a city of one million, as many as 800,000 people were buried in the ruins. The losses were staggering: over 240,000 people lost their lives, and more than 160,000 were injured. This earthquake became one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history, marking a tragic chapter in the history of seismic events over the past 400 years.
Beyond the immense loss of life and property, the earthquake also left deep psychological scars on the survivors. Some lost their loved ones forever, others were left with lifelong disabilities and pain, and some broke under the weight of waiting for rescue. As Qian Gang wrote in his book, “The power of disaster and misfortune lies in its ability to dominate the human spirit.”
Yet, in the most extreme of circumstances, human resilience shines brightest. In the face of overwhelming disaster, people who seemed fragile in both body and mind often exhibited extraordinary acts of courage and perseverance, demonstrating the indomitable strength of the human spirit.
Undestroyable Souls Amidst the Disaster
Li Yulin, the vice-chairman of the Tangshan Mine Workers' Union, was the first to report the disaster to the central government. After the earthquake struck, Li did not waste time securing his own family’s safety. Instead, in the midst of the devastation and with all communications wiped out, his first thought was to inform the central government and request military support for rescue operations. With the only operational vehicle, Li traveled over difficult terrain, stopping multiple times for assistance before finally reaching Beijing and delivering the news to the leadership at Zhongnanhai. At that time, he was in nothing but his underwear, his body covered in the bloodied wounds left by the earthquake.
Despite not holding any official title, Li managed to coordinate efforts with six vice-premiers of China, and though he wasn’t a general, he directed a military force to mobilize. Li’s decisive leadership saved countless lives and allowed for critical rescue time. His story remains a symbol of selflessness and determination in the face of unimaginable adversity.
Throughout the disaster, many ordinary citizens exhibited incredible resilience and determination to survive against all odds. Among them was Wang Zilan, a 23-year-old nurse at Tangshan’s First People's Hospital. After being trapped under the rubble for eight days and nights, Wang was rescued by the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Despite the darkness and uncertainty, Wang kept her faith and optimism alive, believing that the rescue team was coming to save her. When she was finally freed, her body, weakened by days of hunger and thirst, stood upright as if spring-loaded.
One of the most extraordinary tales of survival came from a 46-year-old woman named Lu Guilan. She survived for 13 days without food or water—far beyond the seven-day limit that medical science generally considers the human survival threshold. When the PLA rescued her, she was unconscious but still mentally aware. The first words she uttered upon awakening were “Long live the People’s Liberation Army.”
In the face of overwhelming odds, many nameless heroes emerged from the rubble of Tangshan. Of the 480,000 people who survived in the city, one in every three had been rescued by fellow citizens, often at great personal risk. Many of these survivors, after being rescued, immediately joined in the rescue efforts. One teacher, after being pulled from the debris, rushed to help others, only to succumb to crush syndrome days later, an ailment caused by prolonged compression in the rubble.
Another remarkable story is that of the 20,000 medical personnel who risked their lives to save others in the days following the earthquake. Despite limited resources and a harsh environment, these professionals worked tirelessly, performing surgeries under flashlight beams and saving countless lives. Their dedication and expertise made an enormous difference in the outcome of the disaster.
The PLA soldiers who arrived at the earthquake site in record time were among the unsung heroes of the disaster. Braving frequent aftershocks, they used only their hands and rudimentary tools to dig through the wreckage, racing against time to rescue trapped survivors. Many soldiers suffered severe injuries, with their hands and nails torn from hours of painstaking digging, yet they persevered, determined to pull as many lives from the debris as possible.
The Lessons and Reflections from the Earthquake
As Engels famously said, “No great historical disaster ever occurs without being compensated by progress.” The Tangshan Earthquake undoubtedly devastated many lives, but in the broader context, it served as a painful yet valuable lesson in disaster preparedness. From the experience, China learned critical lessons that would influence its response to future disasters, particularly in the areas of risk management and disaster prevention.
Many survivors recount how, before the earthquake, strange natural phenomena were observed that went largely unheeded. Fish were seen jumping in swarms, and insects and birds exhibited abnormal behavior. Bats flew during the daytime, and rats and weasels engaged in unusual migrations. These signs were clear warnings from nature, but they were dismissed as insignificant. Had these signs been carefully observed and analyzed, the earthquake’s impact could have been reduced.
Additionally, in the days leading up to the disaster, the National Earthquake Bureau had predicted that a major tremor might strike the Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan region, yet due to limitations in prediction technology and a lack of decisive action, no official warnings were issued.
The crumbling infrastructure of the city also contributed significantly to the disaster’s devastating impact. The city's civilian buildings suffered a 94.6estruction rate, public buildings were damaged by 90%, and between 70% to 80% of industrial structures collapsed. Roads, bridges, and utilities were rendered useless, adding further to the chaos. This highlighted the urgent need for earthquake-resistant construction and better urban planning.
Beyond infrastructure, the general public’s lack of preparedness also exacerbated the disaster. People were simply unprepared for the suddenness and severity of the quake. Had the public been more aware of earthquake risks and had better knowledge of disaster response, the death toll may have been lower.
However, the painful lessons learned from the Tangshan Earthquake led to sweeping changes in China’s approach to disaster preparedness. In comparison, the response to the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake was vastly more coordinated and effective, with improvements in technology, military mobilization, and public awareness.
A Rebirth from the Ashes
Nearly half a century later, the city of Tangshan has risen from the ruins, transformed into a modern city. Thanks to decades of rebuilding and recovery, the city’s economy is flourishing, its infrastructure is advanced, and its public services continue to improve.
The lessons of the Tangshan Earthquake remain a poignant reminder of both the fragility and resilience of humanity. While the disaster brought tremendous loss, it also brought invaluable experience and insights that have shaped disaster preparedness efforts in China. The spirit of the people, their ability to persevere against insurmountable odds, and the invaluable contributions of unsung heroes will forever remain etched in the collective memory of the nation.
