Singing through triumph and disaster, the earthquake amputee whose courage captured the hearts of the Chinese nation
Woman who lost both legs in Sichuan disaster took centre stage on a TV talent show but is now struggling to raise the funds to buy new set of prosthetic limbs
The popular tourist town of Dujiangyan in southwest China is buzzing at night, with visitors enjoying local snacks and beer at eateries along its food street on the Min River.
Known for its incredible ancient irrigation system, the city was also just 32km from the epicentre of the devastating Sichuan earthquake in 2008 that killed more than 69,000 people.
Among the many buskers performing for the crowds on food street, it’s hard to miss earthquake survivor Li Yingxia. The 30-year-old lost both her legs in the quake – she now uses prosthetics – and soon afterwards her husband left her.
But it seemed her fortunes were turning when she shot to national attention in 2011 as a contestant on television talent show China Sparkling, then Dream of China the following year.
Li was crowned national champion in the former after winning the hearts of judges and viewers with her courage and strength. But like many who seek fame via China’s televised talent shows, she was soon forgotten.
Now she works diligently, busking in the street to earn enough money to upgrade her artificial legs.
