May 12, near the former site of Juyuan Middle School in Dujiangyan, Sichuan. A large number of family members of the victims gathered to burn incense, light candles, and set off firecrackers to mourn their loved ones lost in the earthquake.
During the massive earthquake on May 12, 2008, two teaching buildings at Juyuan Middle School were razed to the ground, resulting in the tragic deaths of 278 students and 6 teachers. In stark contrast, residential houses surrounding the school and other structures on campus did not fully collapse—some older buildings even remained standing.
Following the disaster, several architectural experts conducted field investigations and pointed out clear quality issues in the collapsed school buildings, including insufficient reinforcement ratios, substandard cement grades, and structural connection defects. However, the authorities insisted on categorizing the tragedy strictly as a "natural disaster." Despite the victims' parents persisting in their pursuit of justice for years—demanding a thorough investigation and legal accountability for those responsible for the construction—their efforts remain without result to this day.