A first group of 18 children orphaned in last year's devastating earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan Province flew to Canada on Thursday on a recuperation tour.

The children, aged from 10 to 17, left Chengdu, the provincial capital, at 7:00 AM and are expected to arrive in Edmonton, Canada, at 7:30 PM.

They will spend nine days there as guests of Mayor Stephen Mandel. Their agenda includes sightseeing tours and a luncheon with the mayor and city councilors.

The children are taking handmade thanksgiving cards with them to express their gratitude.

"I've learned to be independent and strong," 12-year-old Gao Zhijie has written on his card, next to his sketch of a chubby, smiling face. Gao was born five minutes after twin brother Gao Zhihao.

Their parents both died in the 8.0-magnitude earthquake that shook Sichuan and the neighboring provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu on May 12 last year.

Gao Zhijie remains stoic, however." I never cried, not even when I got injections," he said.

The quake left about 87,000 people dead or missing. More than 370,000 were injured.

Mayor Mandel extended an invitation for 36 earthquake orphans to visit Edmonton when he visited Chengdu in February. Residents of the Canadian city have since raised money to host their young guests.

Chengdu's Mayor Ge Honglin has written a letter expressing thanks to Mandel, which will be delivered by the children.

Another 18 earthquake orphans will visit Edmonton in August next year.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2009)