With 1,500 kg of dumplings, restaurant owner heads to quake-hit Baqen

A rescuer thanks Du Guoping (R) at a temporary shelter in Maru Township of Baqen County, Nagqu City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Oct. 24, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua)

After a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Baqen County in Nagqu, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, on Thursday, Du Guoping, owner of a dumpling restaurant in Xigaze, postponed the opening of his two new restaurants and headed to the disaster zone with his staff.

"It took only about 10 minutes to make the decision that we would go to Baqen and cook dumplings for earthquake-affected residents," Du said.

The team loaded more than 1,500 kilograms of dumplings onto vehicles and set off from Xigaze at midnight on the night of the earthquake.

Du Guoping (2nd R) checks a pressure cooker at a temporary shelter in Maru Township of Baqen County, Nagqu City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Oct. 24, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua)

Upon arrival, Du and his staff set up cooking equipment and prepared dumplings for rescue workers and affected residents.

"Make sure everyone gets enough dumplings, and give children a couple more," Du kept telling his staff.

Du Guoping distributes dumplings to rescuers at a temporary shelter in Maru Township of Baqen County, Nagqu City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Oct. 24, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua)

Du and his staff did not eat any of the dumplings themselves. After a full day of cooking, they had some instant noodles -- their only meal of the day. At night, the six team members of Du squeezed into two vehicles to rest.

"We will cook all the dumplings we brought," Du said. "We feel honored to be able to contribute in our own way."

People holding dumplings and rescuers who have finished eating walk back to a temporary shelter in Maru Township of Baqen County, Nagqu City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Oct. 24, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua)