Despite temperatures dropping to -16 C at the foot of the snow-capped mountains, warmth is filling homes in Dingri county that were rebuilt in the aftermath of a massive earthquake in January last year in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region.
Inside reinforced concrete houses, steam rises from pots simmering on stoves. The cold winter is no longer as daunting as it once was.
On Jan 7, 2025, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri and neighboring counties, killing many and destroying tens of thousands of homes. One year on, survivors are rebuilding their lives, supported by large-scale government reconstruction.
Post-disaster relief has reached 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.
Phurbu Dorje, deputy mayor of Shigatse, said reconstruction work began in early March and has now been completed. "Residents moved into new homes in the same year they were affected by the disaster," he 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.
Cracks later appeared in the walls of his adobe house. The structure was eventually replaced with a 70-square-meter home made of reinforced concrete.
"Our old house wasn't warm or bright," Tashi said. "The new one feels sturdy. We don't worry as much about earthquakes anymore."