China marks 1st anniversary of Sichuan quake disaster

Beichuan: Survivors of last year's devastating earthquake in China's Sichuan province have trekked into the ruined town of Beichuan for commemorations of the anniversary of the tragedy that left nearly 90,000 people dead or missing and 5 million homeless.

National leaders are expected to attend ceremonies Tuesday mourning the dead and recommitting the nation to rebuilding in the mountainous region.

Traffic was heavy on narrow roads leading into the deep mountains that surround Beichuan, the closest major town to the epicenter of the quake.

President Hu Jintao is expected to attend commemorations in the quake zone and a grand ceremony is set for the epicentre of the quake in the destroyed town of Beichuan at shortly after 2pm (0600 GMT), the time at which the quake struck.