A newly built village is seen in Dingri county of Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, on Monday, nearly one year after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the area. Reconstruction work has covered seven counties, 47 towns and 486 villages. More than 22,000 houses have been rebuilt, and more than 10,500 homes have been repaired and reinforced. PALDEN NYIMA/CHINA DAILY

The temperatures may be plummeting to around -16 C at the foot of snowcapped mountains, but warmth is filling the rebuilt homes of people who survived last year's powerful earthquake in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region.

Inside reinforced concrete houses in the city's Dingri county, steam rises from pots simmering on stoves as families gather for meals and some quality time. The harsh winter is no longer as daunting for them as it once was.

On Jan 7, 2025, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake rocked Dingri and its neighboring counties, killing 126 people and destroying tens of thousands of homes. One year on, survivors are rebuilding their lives, supported by large-scale government reconstruction.

Reconstruction work has covered seven counties, 47 towns and 486 villages. More than 22,000 houses have been rebuilt, spanning an area of about 3.1 million square meters, while more than 10,500 homes have been repaired and reinforced.

Phurbu Dorje, vice-mayor of Shigatse, said that reconstruction work, which started in early March, has been completed. "Residents moved into their new homes the same year they were affected by the disaster," he added.

As many of the 1,032 reconstruction sites are located in remote areas inaccessible to heavy machinery and at altitudes ranging from 4,000 to 5,300 meters, construction teams braved extreme cold, oxygen deprivation and complex geological conditions to finish their tasks.

Despite persistent rain and snow, more than 61,000 workers, supported by 2,600 construction managers and 134 enterprises, completed the housing projects in just eight months, Phurbu Dorje said.

For residents like Tashi Dondrub, the change has been life-altering. On the day of the earthquake, he was working away from home as a repairman. "I was terrified, and worried about my family," he recalled.

Villagers buy Tibetan shoes at a stall on Monday in Dingri county ahead of the Tibetan New Year, also known as Losar. PALDEN NYIMA/CHINA DAILY

Cracks appeared on the walls of his adobe house after the quake. The clay structure was eventually replaced with a 70-square-meter house made of reinforced concrete. "Our old house wasn't warm or bright. The new one feels sturdy. We don't worry as much about earthquakes as before," he said.

During reconstruction, Tashi Dondrub also found work at the project sites, earning about 10,000 yuan ($1,432) in less than a month. His family moved into their new home in August.

Rebuilding efforts have addressed more than just housing needs. In Sangkar, junior middle school student Nyima said the new infrastructure has transformed her daily life.

"We now have paved roads, bank services and sports grounds," she said, referring to a newly built soccer pitch and a basketball court that have become popular hangouts for children. "It's much more comfortable to study in the new house. It's brighter and warmer," she added.

The recovery has also helped restore confidence in the local economy, including tourism.

Last year, Dingri, which is located at the foot of Qomolangma, also known as Mount Everest, received 940,000 tourist visits, up 3 percent year-on-year. The tourists generated 440 million yuan in revenue, a 5.5 percent increase from 2024, according to official data.

As the Shigatse Losar New Year Festival begins in two weeks, residents are busy tidying up the marketplace for the celebration of the Tibetan New Year in Shigatse. Norbu, a resident of Dingri's Gurong village, said he is eager to celebrate the new year in his new house.

"I have stocked up on mutton, cheese and butter for the celebrations, and I plan to do some more shopping over the next few days," he said. "In the coming year, I hope everyone will be wealthier and happier, and will live in harmony."