Wuhan Before Struck by Coronavirus
A night scene of Wuhan before coronavirus breakout.
East Lake in the city of Wuhan.
Wuhan sports stadium that hosted the 7th Military World Games in October 2019 between the 18th and 27th.
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A scene of the splendid performance at the opening ceremony of the 7th Military World Games in Wuhan.
More than 9,300 military sports personnel from 109 CISM member countries participated in the game.
The US army was particularly keen to embrace the game and sent the biggest team formed by 369 members to Wuhan.
Apparently, the US athletes were quite fascinated by this ancient Chinese city, spending most of their time wandering around shopping centres and food markets…
However, while they exhibited great interest in the local culture and food, the same could not be said about their attitudes towards sports, and some of them did not even bother to participate in any event.
They collected zero gold medal and ranked 35th in performance behind nations like Iran and North Korea. Thus the team from the most powerful military force on the earth was dubbed by the local Chinese as “soy sauce soldiers” (打酱油的), meaning dummy athletes.
Just a little more than two weeks after the 7th Military World Game, the first case of coronavirus infection was diagnosed in a Wuhan hospital.
More details at veteranstoday.com
A veranda-style bridge in Hubei Province after a heavy snowfall, a frozen linkage in the Chinese new year transiting the world from Metal Pig to Metal Rat. Metal relates to lungs in the human body.
COMMENTS FROM MINDS
January 23, 2020
soxfan1957
Prior to this year (The Rat) I have never heard of an element being aligned with a zodiac sign.
Eric
I had heard water rat? But what do I know.
All Things Chinese
Chinese calendar uses 5 agents both in yin & yang forms to represent the change in time (i.e. qis from heaven known as heavenly stems) and 12 zodiacs to represent space (i.e. qis from earth known as earthly branches).
When you match 10 heavenly stems with 12 earthly branches, you get 64 different combinations, which represent 64 typical circumstances in real-life situations.
That is how Metal Rat and Water Rat come.
The heavenly stems that match with the zodiac Rat forever possess Yang qi, which means when being agent Metal, it is military weapons, not sewing needles, and when being agent Water, it is oceans, not fountains.
soxfan1957
Sorry but that just put my mind in total chaos trying to figure all that out.
All Things Chinese
It’s my fault, I haven’t been able to explain it clearly. This world is amazingly simple with nothing mysterious but our language makes it complicated. Yet still, nothing can’t be explained.
Think about the computer. When we switch it on, a binary numeric virtual system emerges from the blank screen to form myriad images and text for us to express and perceive, although there are no real things existed on the screen.
0 and 1 in the binary system are yin and yang, within the yin, there is yang, within the yang there is yin, the layers are countless, therefore an intricate world is formed.
In the binary system, 0 (yin) generally represents the dimension of space while 1 (yang) stands for the dimension of time.
If we further divide the time dimension into 10 types (five agents in both yin and yang) and the space dimension into 12 types, we can get 64 combinations, i.e. 64 models. Once we fully understand the evolution of each model and the relationship between the models, we can easily comprehend the situation in the human world and in the universe.
Yang and Yin are virtually ON and OFF. So the entire universe is formed by simple actions: on and off.
Life in Wuhan Under Quarantine
After initial chaotic responses by both the local government and China CDC, Wuhan was locked down since January 23, just a couple of days before the Chinese New Year, the biggest family reunion occasion in the Chinese calendar. Many people escaped the city overnight, potentially carrying with them the virus that led to the nationwide virus outbreak.
A deserted Wuhan street under traffic ban.
But some shops are still open for business.
COMMENTS FROM MINDS
Jan 29, 2020
soxfan1957
I would be shopping. Call me crazy but I feel you have to take viruses head-on and build your own resistance. I don’t believe in the flu shot or it’s reported benefits.
In the US it is a governmental program that pays hospitals, drug stores and others for administering the serum and they are all jumping on the bandwagon to reap the profits.
Eric
Not to make light of the situation, but this would be, kinda, a good time to visit. No congestion, no line-ups at the stores or restaurants. Without traffic the air is cleaner.
soxfan1957
Unfortunately no flight either right now.
All Things Chinese
No flight but virus. See those chrysanthemum flowers? They are the flowers to be presented at the funerals of senior family members, which now become the most popular flowers sold in Wuhan … go figure. Sad.
soxfan1957
I would rather they were used for tea than funerals. This was such a devastating virus.
All Things Chinese
This virus does not kill people directly but makes the patients’ immune system weak and cause them to die from their chronic illness.
soxfan1957
I read on coronavirus and it is actually quite common. Since it’s symptoms are flu-like and it is treated as if it is the flu (which makes it a form of the flu in my opinion) it is seldom diagnosed.
My fear is we are creating deadlier strains in our quest to prevent them over letting our own immune systems build natural tolerance.
A family in Hubei Province during the Chinese New Year festival amid coronavirus outbreak.
COMMENTS FROM MINDS
Jan 29, 2020
soxfan1957
I congratulate them for keeping the tradition alive.
Eric
Bravo! They launch a floating burny thing. So cool.
All Things Chinese
A great spirit of resilience.
A busy supermarket in Wuhan with all shoppers wearing face masks.
COMMENTS FROM MINDS
Jan 29, 2020
soxfan1957
From what I read the mask will do little to protect people from the virus. As stated by several in earlier posts (including All Things Chinese) there are better precautions people need to take.
Eric
True, but at least a mask gives you a sense or feeling of security.
I was got very sick in a lecture from someone coughing and sneezing, I felt the spray hit my skin from the guy behind me, in two days I couldn’t go to college for a week. They may feel a little reassured. 😃😃
All Things Chinese
It depends on what kind of masks. It will have to be a surgical mask, not a normal cotton mask, and need to be replaced every four hours or so. Coronavirus mainly transmits through saliva and skin contact, so a face mask is the first defense force.
How people in Wuhan spend their time at home since Jan 23
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A man does fishing in the living room
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Two men play badminton in the living room.
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Old neighbours drink together from two different building blocks.
Setbacks
Regrettably, there are problems with The Red Cross in many countries, including in China.
Red Cross Wuhan sent 18,000 face masks to a private chain hospital specialised in plastic surgery & abortion but only offered 3,000 to the public hospital battling against coronavirus.
Wuhan Red Cross is also very inefficient, heavily relying on few trained volunteers to do the job. Tons of goods donated from all over China including some from overseas are piled outdoors for days without being distributed to the hospitals that urgently need those supplies.
COMMENTS FROM TWITTER
Anarcho-Mothism
This is a result of internal contradictions between private and socialist managed distribution. There def should be some work done to ensure important equipment like this goes straight to where it’s needed.
All Things Chinese
Emergency relief had always been government responsibility under the administration of centralised authority in China for thousands of years, which is a sign of a highly civilised society.
There was no such tradition in the West until recently (still, only to some extent), so conventionally social charity organisations become the main carriers of the tasks with the funds chiefly coming from donations and tax reduction as the major incentives.
Lately, China somehow ditched its more sophisticated and liable emergency aid system to adopt the crude Western method, relying on donations and volunteers to do the job. Red Cross has been made as the only official channel to receive donations.
The problems with Wuhan Red Cross are far more serious than its chaotic management system. Of 39,000 face masks distributed, 36,000 were sent to 2 private hospitals belonging to a notorious business group known for making misleading medical promotions that caused death.
Who donated those face masks? The same business group that owns the hospitals. It seems to be a case of tax evasion. Then what’s the role the Red Cross has played in this saga?
Built Two Brand New Hospitals in Ten Days
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The brand new Mt Fire God emergency hospital containing 1,000 beds for coronavirus treatment has been completed on February 2.
COMMENTS FROM MINDS
27 Jan, 2020
soxfan1957
Necessity is the mother of invention. It is amazing what we as humans can do when faced with adversity. Wonder how long the hiring and training will take.
All Things Chinese
Just wait for the spring of Metal Rat year to formally come in a week or so, by then we shall see a turning point.
My Key
During the Spanish Flu in 1918, around 50 million people died. The population in 1918 was around 2 billion.
In this year 2020, the world’s population is around 7.8 billion. If this is the next pandemic, if you do the math we will be having around 150-200 million deaths.
It makes one wonder: Where are you going to bury all those dead bodies?
All Things Chinese
I believe by late February we shall see the light at the end of the tunnel. Cheer up.
soxfan1957
Many people are getting cremated these days. Yes, it’s a morbid thought but a true one that saves space.
All Things Chinese
For most deceased cremation is a very brutal way to end their lives since they may not be able to fully leave the rundown house. Then the house was set on fire and burned down when they are still partially trapped. The damage caused to their soul from this dreadful experience could be long-term – when I say long-term, I mean it could last for numerous lifetimes.
The cremation is very much the tradition of Hinduism. Along with feeding the dead to vultures in Tibet, cremation is one of the most appalling and unnatural ways to treat the deceased.
They also result in severing links in the time dimensions between generations.
The aerial view of the new Mt Fire God emergency hospital.
During the peak period of the construction phase, there were 4,000 people and nearly a thousand machines working on-site simultaneously 24 hours each day.
A corridor in the new hospital.
The hospital is equipped with a 5G Internet connection, delivery robots and a self-service supermarket
Mt Fire God Hospital is not the only emergency medical facility built to combat coronavirus. Mt Thunder God Hospital is also under construction.
In Five Agents, the lung belongs to Metal while Fire can smelt Metal & Wood (thunder) can fuel Fire
The two hospitals are modelled upon Mt Little Soup Hospital for SARS built in Beijing in 2003.
Square Cabin Hospitals
Apart from 2 fully equipped permanent new hospitals, 14 temporary square cabin hospitals were also quickly erected for patients with mild infections.
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The nurse motivated patients to do square dance in Squan Cabin Hospital.
COMMENTS FROM MINDS
soxfan1957
I hope the suit is air-conditioned. 😊
Eric
And they were hoppin and boppin to the coronavirus rock, laaaa, lalala laaaa, llalalaaaaa……. Elton john
All Things Chinese
The suit makes them look like astronauts. 😁
soxfan1957
Yes from a 1950’s Sci-fi B-movie.
Eric
Bobby Wilson Picket — “I was working in the lab, late one night. When my eyes beheld a fearful sight, they did the mash, the monster mash” lol
soxfan1957
Obviously another person who always has music in his head.
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A doctor led patients in a Squan Cabin Hospital to do tai chi exercises.
COMMENTS FROM MINDS
Eric
Single whip left, well done. Good taiji.
All Things Chinese
Stroke a peacock’s tail…
Eric
Ah yes that’s right
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Happy square dance in a Squan Cabin Hospital.
COMMENTS FROM MINDS
Eric
Yesh what great spirit, that will cheer you up. Party! Party! Party!
All Things Chinese
Our physical condition is very much affected by our mental state. Being cheerful and positive could be the best rest, you guys agree?
Eric
I do fully agree, and these guys look like they’re having fun. Great attitude and approach.
soxfan1957
Definitely agree.
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Social dance in Square Cabin Hospital.
COMMENDS FROM MINDS
soxfan1957
How to make the most of a bad situation.
Eric
Awesome 👍👍 Total Respect. 😁😁😀
Those guys in the bunny suit must be hot.
All Things Chinese
Some may fall in love and find their soulmate there.
A library in a Square Cabin Hospital for patients
Accommodation on a Cruise Ship
Since January 23, hotels across the city are all used to house patients and medical teams flocked in from all over China.
But still, the local accommodations are not capable to handle this unprecedented medical emergency, so a luxury cruise ship from Chongqing went to join the ranks serving as accommodation for medical staff members.
Cruise ship Blue Whale from Chongqing arrived at the Wuhan wharf by the Yangtze River.
The ship has 202 beds in 101 standard cabins, each equipped with two beds, a bathroom and a balcony.
The Crucial Role Played by Traditional Chinese Medicine
In the battle against SARS and COVID-19, Chinese medicine has played a key role, as it has thousands of years of experience in dealing with the epidemic.
This more than 3,000-year-old Oracle Bone unearthed from Yinxu in 1971 recorded an epidemic event during the Shang Dynasty.
The diagram shows how the Chinese character “disease” has evolved since the Oracle Bone era.
COMMENTS FROM MINDS
Eric
I can see in the last one is a man in hospital. 👍it resembles the second one. However the first one is very different, are they also from different geographical locales. A kind of accent in characters as well as the evolution of time??
All Things Chinese
The first one is Oracle Bone script, said to be the earliest Chinese written language, the source of today’s Chinese characters. It looks like a man lying on his side in a bed (a floor plan view in the left) and a bad (a cross-section view of a bed in the right).
Later, somehow, the bed moved to the left side and the man lying on his back.
soxfan1957
This me feel like it is a psychiatry session. That last one looks like a man being chased by a dragon.
How ancient Chinese handled epidemic 4,000 years ago according to the record on Oracle Bones
The illustrations below were done by an ancient Chinese artist.
Purify the house with the smoke from medicinal herbs.
COMMENTS FROM MINDS
Eric
Cough, cough, hack, hack cough cough. I hope it works 😃
soxfan1957
When I was a child they would put Vick’s vapour rub in vaporizers and have you breathe it in.
Moxibustion – repel the infected qi by burning dried mugwort on particular points on the body.
Acupuncture – activates the healthy qi to defend the body system by stirring the stagnated flow with a needle on particular points in the body.
COMMENTS FROM MINDS
soxfan1957
I believe Chinese still believe in acupuncture but have relied on it a lot less.
All Things Chinese
Yes, It seems many Chinese still use it but not as many as decades ago since the powerful multinational drug companies come into China and try to take over the entire Chinese market so have hired some local guys to discredit Chinese medicine including acupuncture.
Eric
It has increased in the west as a form of treatment, interesting.
All Things Chinese
That’s good news. Taking chemical drugs along with surgery should always be the last resort in medical treatment.
Eric
A Korean friend of mine is saying I should get acupuncture to help my pain. I wonder about the point, hehee “the point” heheee haa
All Things Chinese
Acupuncture is very good for pain relief, but it’s important to find a qualified and experienced doctor.
Self-quarantine.
On the Way to Recover
After a month of being confined indoors in a hospital, the mobile bed of the 87-year-old man was wheeled outside by medical staff to view a stunning sunset scene.
In early March, all square-cabin hospitals closed since most patients have recovered from the illness.
An empty square-cabin hospitals
COMMENTS FROM MINDS
TrustChristORGoToHell!
“Recovery”..or more like ORGAN STEALING and then burning the bodies.
soxfan1957
I’ll personally go with recovery. I’ll have “faith” they did the right thing.
Eric
Yes, I think I go with recovery too, you racist Christian.
All Things Chinese
I understand the crusaders of the cult will wish all non-believers to go to hell.
These people are exactly the reasons why humanity will have to go through a decade of chaos and darkness before seeing the light at the end of the tunnel as the human civilization on earth slowly upgrade to a higher level where the culture of inclusiveness and cooperation prevails, where there will be no place for people like this guy.
A group of people recovered from coronavirus infection left the square-cabin hospital on their way home.
Secrets behind the Success of Wuhan Fangcang Shelter Hospitals.
The End to Lockdown
Since early March, Hubei Province has reported zero new cases, and farmers began to return to the field.
After being shut down for 53 days since January 23, Wuhan‘s Hankou Train Station was thoroughly sterilised on Friday, March 20, prior to reopening for business.
COMMENTS FROM MINDS
soxfan1957
Spring is in the air and the sun is warming the land and killing the virus.
Eric
Let us hope that is so, Paul. Were there cases in the rural areas also?
soxfan1957
Not that I know of. However, there were a couple of people out sick this week in my group. I think there will be a lot of cases that go unnoticed too.
All Things Chinese
If the temperature of the weather indeed plays a crucial role, then I would question the judgement of the captains of both “Princess” cruise ships. Why didn’t they sail the ships towards the equator but go ashore Japan and America?
After nearly 2-months of lockdown, the border closure order for Hubei Province has been formally lifted since March 25. The first passenger aborded the train from Wuhan yesterday.
About 2 months ago, the guy missed his stop on his way home for Chinese New Year and got off the train at a station in Hubei. He wasn’t able to get out until now. What a tragic story.
He became the first passenger to border the train from Wuhan on March 25.
March 25, 2020, passengers had their temperature checked before bordering a bus.
After 2 months in a total lockdown since January 23, people in Wuhan started to walk out of their homes, and public transport once began operating, but they are still urged to wear protective face masks.
COMMENTS FROM MINDS
Eric
This picture is worth a thousand words, I would love to know how to send it to PM Toodumb. Maybe get him into some action.
soxfan1957
I believe we actually have something like that here but it works more like the one in Men in Black. It wipes your mind and then leaves you with the thought Trump knows what he is doing.
All Things Chinese
Trump is just a trumpet, an instrument for others to blow.
I think he’s sensed he has knowledge and trust issues with others so he keeps bluffing “nobody knows …. better than me” to prop up his sagging ego and confidence.
Pompeo and Miller know much better than him about almost all behind scene subjects and scenarios. Trump is just their tool and not part of the real ruling group because he’s only a trumpet, a loudspeaker, a big mouth.
Besides, although Trump is never a man of compassion but a symbol of greed, bitterness and confusion, yet he is not murderous, and he is not reckless (in fact, he’s a coward man), unlike Pompeo and Miller.
If he’s wise, he should stop claiming he knows better than anyone about anything, otherwise, he will be forced to share the responsibilities for the nasty things that he knows nothing about.
COMMENTS FROM TWITTER
April 14, 2020
How China “LIED” to the world Quote from Amie Blomquist.
4 months ago: pic.twitter.com/2fof6ZeWdG
— All Things Chinese & Beyond (@ClassicChina) April 13, 2020
Yupanqi_87
Ohh c’mon, the stupidity of some western leaders (US, Milan, Brazil, etc.) don’t justify the PRC government calling rumors to the truths Li Wenliang said early nor the stupid conspirative theories pushed by government officials that the virus was implanted by the US.
All Things Chinese
The truth will be revealed before long. Just beware of those who insist it is not from a lab.
Yupanqi_87
So disappointed in your answer. Not only you didn’t acknowledge the initial lies and defamation of Dr. Li, but now you post conspirative theories. Sorry I have to unfollow you.
All Things Chinese
There are no initial lies but the initial & brief cover-up attempt by the local gov. There is no defamation of Li Wenliang. Li told unconfirmed conclusions to his friends & his friends spread the news wild which alarmed the police who had a talk with him.
The police talk & his written promise not to further spread the news did not publish in any media so I don’t know how it can be considered defamation.
Li Wenliang was a CCP member & he followed his party’s rule, that was his business with his party. What the hell of it has anything to do with the Commie haters?
After all, Li Wenliang was now honoured as a hero while the police were punished (I don’t think Li was a hero though), unlike Captain Brett Crozier of the USS Theodore Roosevelt who was sacked by the US gov & his whistleblow act was labelled as “betrayal” by his boss.
I’m quite amazed why you care nothing about the defamation against an American Captain but feel so strongly over the non-existed defamation case related to a Chinese Commie.
You do know what you are doing right? Thank you for stopping following me.
Yupanqi_87
Making up things is your answer? fallacy ad hominem. I hate the defamation about the Captain, I hate DJ Trump, I hate many western leaders. Those are all my strong feelings. Now, can you stop being a little child and inventing positions I supposedly have?