The audience watched art performances at the party.

Li Yue, an elementary schoolgirl from Mianzhu, Sichuan, who lost her left leg in the earthquake, performed a pas de deux with artist Lu Meng in the piano accompaniment by Li Yundi. The elementary schoolgirl has cherished a dream to become a dancer.

Another crippled girl from the earthquake attracted the audience's attention. Huang Siyu, an elementary schoolgirl from Yingxiu Town, epicenter of the earthquake, had her first meeting with her father and sister since she was sent to Beijing for medical and psychological treatment. Huang dragged herself from underneath the ruins after cutting off her left leg on her own.

The annual charity events have raised more than 40 million yuan (about 5.84 million U.S. dollars) over the past five years. Since the earthquake, the organizers have donated over 4 million yuan worth of relief goods to the quake areas.

(Xinhua News Agency November 29, 2008)