On January 7, 2025, a magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck Dingri suddenly, drawing the concern of the Central Committee of the CPC, the whole nation, and the entire Xizang Autonomous Region.

Over the past year, the Party committee of Xizang Autonomous Region has efficiently and effectively advanced post-disaster recovery and reconstruction, achieving the remarkable feat of "moving into new homes within the same year of the disaster."

Foundation: Ensuring a happy life and rebuilding a homeland

In Gurum Village, Chamco Town, Dingri County, 69-year-old Dorje sat in front of his brand-new Tibetan-style residence, basking in the sun with his eyes closed.

"The sunshine now feels particularly warm," Dorje said, patting the wall beside him. "This wall is thick, and the foundation is deep. I feel at ease, and even the sun seems warmer."

Saga County is the farthest disaster-stricken county from the epicenter. In Dagze Village, Xarru Town, villager Tobgye is very satisfied with his new home's modern kitchen, bathroom, and living room. "I never imagined living in a house like those in the city, even in a pastoral area. With an independent kitchen, there’s less smoke and the house is much cleaner."

From ruins to new houses, from worry to peace of mind, it's not just a replacement of bricks and tiles but also a reconstruction of confidence in life.

During the recovery and reconstruction process, Xigaze City insisted on advancing the reconstruction of civilian houses simultaneously with the improvement of infrastructure. It repaired earthquake-damaged roads, restored communication networks, and ensured power supply. It also planned and built cultural activity centers, basketball courts, clinics, kindergartens, and other public service facilities, as well as garbage and sewage treatment facilities in a step-by-step manner. In response to the characteristics of plateau life, it orderly built standardized livestock sheds, highland barley drying yards, and other production facilities. Currently, the major infrastructure in the disaster areas has resumed functionality, and public service facilities such as education and healthcare have been put into use where conditions permit.

In Lagui Village, Qob Town, Dinggye County, the brand-new workshop of the Chongsa Agricultural Product Processing Cooperative still carries the fragrance of tsampa. "After the earthquake, the cooperative comprehensively upgraded its facilities. A couple of days ago, we just started production of a batch of tsampa, which passed the quality inspection," said Tashi Dorje, the first secretary of the village task force and head of the work team. "We are now applying for a food production license. With the license, our tsampa can enter school canteens and supermarket shelves."

From "having a place to live" to "living in a high-quality home" and then to "having thriving industries," the level of reconstruction is progressing, and the quality of life is improving.

Data shows that over the past year, the disaster-stricken areas have completed crop sowing on nearly 500,000 mu (about 333.33km²) of land, with a grain output of nearly 160,000 tons, a year-on-year increase of 1.07%. Nearly 80,000 mu (about 53.33km²) of high-standard farmland have been newly built or upgraded. Xigaze City has invested 372 million yuan to start the construction of 78 rural industrial projects, and the dividends from supporting industries and cooperatives have increased by nearly 47% year-on-year.

Backbone: Putting the people first and strengthening the foundation of governance

One year has passed, and the answer is written not only in the brand-new homeland but also in the quietly reshaped governance landscape and the people's sentiments.

In Yejiang Village, Cogo Town, Dingri County, Pema Tsering, the Party branch secretary and village committee director, is organizing villagers to participate in the high-standard farmland construction project in batches. "When doing work among the masses, effort should be made in daily life," he said.

This simple sentiment reveals a profound truth: true governance begins with face-to-face interaction and is achieved through heart-to-heart empathy.

On a broader scale, more than 6,600 Party members and cadres at the city, county, township, and village levels have been stationed on the front lines, living and eating with construction teams and closely monitoring every link. This has not only ensured the high-quality and efficient completion of reconstruction tasks but also, like spring breeze and gentle rain, deepened the close relationship between cadres and the masses and consolidated the Party's ruling foundation at the grassroots level. The abilities of grassroots cadres have also been comprehensively honed and elevated through unprecedented complex practical exercises.

In Quxar Town, Lhaze County, it was found after the earthquake that the phenomenon of "people and households being separated" was prominent in many street-facing houses and self-built houses, making disaster assessment and reconstruction work extremely difficult. In response, Lhaze County redefined its administrative grid and launched a door-to-door campaign. Cadres managed to clarify the situation and implement policies through this exhaustive, on-the-ground effort.

However, this was far from the end of a temporary investigation but the beginning of a transformation in governance thinking. Lhaze County took advantage of the situation to adjust the grassroots governance structure, promoting the change of the "suffix" of four administrative villages within the county seat, namely Quxar and Jiru, from "village" to "community," clearly incorporating the previously "hidden households" into the community grid.

"Simply put, after the village-to-community change, the scope of service and management has expanded," said Kelsang, the Party branch secretary of Quxar Community.

Brand-new houses stand tall on the plateau, but what is stronger than the buildings is the silent trust, the upgraded governance, and the more resilient grassroots forces after weathering the storm.

Lifeblood: Emotional integration nourishing the spirit

In Sangsang Town, Ngangring County, Grandma Bale, now in her seventies, still often tells her neighbors about her "family members" from Zhejiang. Last year, Zhejiang entrepreneurs Guo Lifei and Du Hangkai, who participated in the reconstruction, learned that the elderly woman was troubled. They not only frequently visited to offer comfort but also specially drove to Xigaze city to buy her well-fitting new clothes and brand-new Tibetan-style furniture. They also promised to visit and offer condolences regularly, allowing this cross-regional ethnic friendship to continue. Moved to tears, the elderly woman said, "the house is warm, but my heart is even warmer."

From strangers to acquaintances, from estrangement to integration, builders of all ethnic groups and the local people live, study, work, and enjoy themselves together, allowing the seeds of "the Chinese nation is one family" to take root on the plateau.

Many grassroots Party members and cadres have found that after the reconstruction, the people "not only dress neatly and keep their houses tidy but also take the initiative to maintain public areas."

The people participating in the reconstruction have discovered that technology is not so difficult to learn as long as one puts in the effort, and earning money with skills is the most reliable way.

Dawa Tsering, a carpenter from Chukha Village, Dinggye County, still cherishes the woodworking blueprints given to him by his Han Chinese masters. During the reconstruction, he learned to read blueprints and mastered techniques from four Han Chinese masters, greatly improving his skills. As the Xigaze Agricultural New Year approaches, he has received orders from 14 households for custom-made furniture partitions and cabinets. He also made an appointment with his masters to go out to work together in the spring.

One should not forget those who dug the well when drinking water. Norbu, a villager from Gurum Village, said emotionally, "after the earthquake, we were scared and in difficulty. It was the Party and the government that gave us the courage to carry on."

The mountains and rivers may be shaken, but the people's will becomes even firmer. This land and its people are moving towards the next spring with this tempered calmness and determination.

Reporter: Yang Ziyan, Tashi Dundrup, Tenzin Gawa

Translator: Luo Rongting, Zhi Xinghua

Review: Hu Rongguo, Drakpa Wangchen