Non-governmental volunteer organizations for the Wenchuan earthquake

In order to express the deep sorrow of all the nationalities in China for their compatriots who died in the Sichuan Wenchuan earthquake, the State Council decided that May 19th to 21st of the year 2008 would be the National Mourning Days. During this period, the national flag would be flown at half-mast and public entertainment activities would be suspended nationwide and at all overseas institutions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese embassies and consulates abroad would set up books of condolence. Starting from 14:28 on May 19th, the whole nation would observe three minutes of silence. At that time, horns of cars, trains and ships would sound and air-raid alarms would be set off.