Lhasa, January 8 (China News Service) -- Title: Visiting Tingri, Tibet: New Homes Rise Amidst Ruins
On a snowy plateau in winter, the warm sun shines on rows of new Tibetan-style houses in Changsuo Township, Dingri County, Tibet, with wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys and bursts of laughter drifting through the air. A year ago, this place was struck by a magnitude 6.8 earthquake, severely damaging the homes of the local people; a year later, distinctive new houses have risen from the ruins, families have returned to peace, and the pain brought by the earthquake has gradually been replaced by warmth and hope.
The photo shows that water, electricity, and roads have been fully restored in Senga Village, Changsuo Township, Dingri County, after post-disaster reconstruction. (Photo by Gong Sanglam)
Rewind to January 7, 2025, when a sudden 6.8 magnitude earthquake caused significant damage to Tingri County, which has an average altitude of over 4,300 meters. However, the disaster did not break the spirit of the people in the affected area. On the third day after the earthquake, Tibet urgently launched the overall plan for post-disaster recovery and reconstruction, and various preliminary tasks, such as surveying and geological exploration and housing design, were carried out at full speed and against the clock.
Basang Luobu, deputy county head of Dingri County, recalled that in order to ensure that the rebuilt houses truly met the villagers' wishes, the staff organized more than 30 village symposiums and opinion solicitation meetings to listen to everyone's ideas. Finally, the scope of the reconstruction of 8,504 houses and the repair and reinforcement of 1,930 houses in 172 administrative villages throughout the county were determined, and six house types were customized according to the number of family members.
"The project was fully launched in March, construction began across the entire region in June, foundation pouring was completed in August, and the entire project was completed and put into use in October," said Basang Luobu. Behind this "plateau speed" is the firm commitment to fulfilling promises made to improve people's lives.
The photo shows villagers in Senga Village, Changsuo Township, Dingri County, recounting their wonderful lives after moving into their new homes. (Photo by Gong Sanglam)
In the early days after the earthquake, Tsering Phuntsok, the Party Branch Secretary of Gurong Village in Changsuo Township, led the village cadres to coordinate the construction progress, mobilize villagers to contribute labor, and stayed at the reconstruction site throughout the process.
"I never dared to dream of moving into such a nice new house less than a year after the earthquake," Tsering Puntsok said with deep emotion. He recalled that the villagers' original farm tools were damaged in the earthquake, but before spring plowing and sowing, the higher-level agricultural department promptly dispatched machinery and provided all the grain seeds free of charge, ensuring that not a single acre of farmland in the entire township was left uncultivated.
In the home of Sangjie, a cook at the Senga Village Kindergarten, three generations of her family sat together in the sun-drenched living room, enjoying a warm and harmonious atmosphere. "Life is so wonderful now; I can balance work and family," Sangjie said with a smile. She has been working as a cook at the kindergarten for six years, earning 2,500 yuan (RMB) per month, which adds up to more than 30,000 yuan a year.
After the earthquake, she was worried about not being able to find a job, but to her surprise, the kindergarten reopened as scheduled in early March. The number of children increased from more than 70 to more than 90. Her life quickly returned to normal, and she was able to make a living while also spending time with her family.
The photo shows villagers in Changsuo Township, Dingri County, herding sheep in the fields. (Photo by Gong Sanglam)
Walking through the disaster-stricken area of Tingri today, new houses stand tall, roads are smooth, and infrastructure such as water, electricity, and communications has been fully upgraded. Villagers smile more often, their spirits have been renewed, and mutual assistance among neighbors is a common sight.
"These brand-new villages are not only our homes, but also a testament to ethnic unity and concerted efforts," Tsering Phuntsok said with deep emotion as he looked at the neatly arranged new houses.
China News Service reporter Gong Sanglam
