More than half of the 264 quake-affected schools in Zhaotong City, which administers Ludian County, have begun reconstruction with an accumulated investment of 398 million yuan.
CHALLENGES REMAIN
With regular seismic activity, complex topography and frequent rainstorms, the region is prone to the worst of nature. A majority of the farmers living in Ludian survive on less than one dollar per day.
Most of these areas exist in a vicious cycle, where poverty has lowered their capacity to endure and prevent natural disasters and the destruction brought on by the disasters further worsens the economic situation.
Prior to the earthquake, there was optimism among the area's local farmers as plans to plant peppers, pecans and apples in the barely arable mountain region was proving successful.
The earthquake destroyed them all.
Tao Yonghong, a villager from Lijiashan Village, lost more than 40,000 chickens in the earthquake. Only one survived, earning it the nickname "Strong Chicken".
Tao spent all his money and borrowed a lot to build nine rooms and a chicken farm before the quake. All of them were flooded by a barrier lake.
Tao returned to his house after the flood receded and opened a shop to support his family. He is expected to move to his new house in the seat of the town by the end of this year.
"My first 40 years has been buried in water and I have to create a new life for the rest of my life by myself," he said.
The Zhaotong municipal government promised to complete the reconstruction within three years and to ensure the living conditions and economic development will be fully restored and surpass the pre-quake level.
"When the reconstruction is completed, the residents will get out of poverty," said Zhang Jihua, mayor of Zhaotong City.
A pepper trading market has been built at a resettlement at Guangming Village and another resettlement at Shaba Village will be developed into a tourism attraction with rural home inns, according to Li Shanyun.
The former Longtoushan township government, which is still in ruins, will be built into an earthquake memorial park.
Looking at the ruins, Tang Zhengyun, who lost eight family members in the quake, burst into tears.
"If we survivors cannot rebuild a good homeland, how can we honor the deceased?" said Tang.
