Sitting in the pouring rain in rubble that used to be her home in Beichuan, Wang Xinghua could not help but cry yesterday.

Like many other local residents, Wang visited her hometown to pay homage to relatives, colleagues, and friends who lost their lives in the May 12 earthquake. The city was reopened for just one day after being sealed off since May 20.

Chinese custom dictates one should pay homage 100 days after a person's death.