Exactly a week after the Sichuan earthquake left tens of thousands of people dead, China stops for a three minute silence.
Across the country, rescue teams stopped work, troops bowed their heads, and China's president stood in silence in central Beijing.
indsey Hilsum in Hongbai

By Richard Spencer in Mianyang, Sichuan province With factory hooters and car horns blaring, China began three days of national mourning for the 50000 dead

A book of condolences will be opened for signing today at the Chinese Embassy in Wellington following the devastating earthquake in Sichuan province which claimed the lives of more than 35,000 people.
The Chinese Government has declared three days of mourning for the victims of the magnitude 7.9 quake. Chinese Mission counselor Zhao Yanbo says the book will be open from 10 o'clock this morning. The Chinese flag is flying at half mast in China and at Chinese missions abroad.
y speaks to Australian John Cliffa, who teaches English in Changdu, which is the capital of the province devastated by the Chinese earthquake.

WENCHUAN, China (AP) - China stood still Monday, mourning for tens of thousands of earthquake victims, until a government forecast of a possible strong aftershock sent jittery people in the disaster area rushing into the streets.
Construction workers, shopkeepers and bureaucrats across the bustling nation of 1.3 billion people paused for three minutes of tribute at 2:28 p.m. — exactly one week after the magnitude 7.9 quake hit central China.
eople in Chengdu, Sichuan's capital, went into public squares.

From AP WENCHUAN, China -- China stood still today in mourning over tens of thousands of earthquake victims, and the government appealed for more

Beijing - 'Unity is strength' chanted mourners on Monday in China's south-western city of Chengdu, a few dozen kilometres from towns and villages where at least 34,000 people died in a devastating earthquake seven days earlier.
A woman weeps after thousands of people had stood in silence to mourn the dead in the Sichuan earthquake on Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China 19 May 2008 when the whole nation stopped to pay respects for three minutes at 14:28, one week exactly after the quake. China started a three day period of national mourning 19 May to show respect for the more than 33,000 dead and 200,000 injured by the 12 May 7.9 magnitude earthquake. EPA/ADRIAN BRADSHAW
spect for the more than 33,000 dead and 200,000 injured by the 12 May 7.9 magnitude earthquake. EPA/ADRIAN BRADSHAW

BEICHUAN: Sirens wailed as China paused in grief yesterday as the country began three days of mourning for more than 30,000 victims of the earthquake that struck a week ago.
Across the vast country of 1.3 billion people, air raid sirens and car, train and ship horns sounded to "wail in grief" at 2.28pm, the exact time the quake hit. People everywhere observed a three-minute silence.
ghai and Shenzhen sharemarkets and the futures exchanges in Shanghai, Zhengzhou and Dalian halted trading for three minutes.

By VOA News China came to a standstill for three minutes Monday as part of three days of mourning for the tens of thousands of victims of last Monday's

People across China have held three minutes of silence marking the exact moment one week ago when a deadly earthquake struck the southwestern province of Sichuan.
At 06:28 GMT on Monday the sound of car, train and ship horns, as well as air raid sirens, marked the beginning of the silence across the country.
f teams racing against time to find survivors.

DUJIANGYAN, China (AFP) - China on Monday lowered flags to half-mast, suspended its Olympic torch relay and curbed entertainment as the nation began three days of mourning for its worst earthquake in a generation.
In solemn scenes broadcast on state television, Chinese soldiers performed the daily raising of the national flag at Beijing's imposing Tiananmen Square, then lowered it to half-mast in memory of the estimated 50,000 quake dead.
erseas, according to state media.

China has begun three days of mourning for the victims of the devastating earthquake in Sichuan province.
Flags are flying at half-mast and a nationwide silence has been observed to mark the time it struck a week ago.
rtain times for survivors

By AP China declared three days of national mourning for earthquake victims and suspended the Olympic torch relay as the search for survivors of the

Wearing “I love China” T-shirts they unload the injured from ambulances. Driving their Hondas and their Audis, they deliver water to the homeless.

By Ben Blanchard BEIJING (Reuters) - China is handing out praise to its soldiers for their quick response to the Sichuan earthquake, seizing on a chance to improve the image of an institution badly tarred by the Tiananmen Square crackdown 19 years ago.
Military officials have emphasizes the speed and scale of the army response to the massive quake and their success in rescuing tens of thousands from the rubble of shattered buildings.
g waters.