Post-quake Yingxiu on long road towards fully recovery

WATCH VIDEO

It's more difficult for children who lost their classmates to move on.

The graves are a constant reminder. 11-year-old Yang Chenxi  and his friends come here to mourn their lost classmates  every weekend.

The graves are a constant reminder. 11-year-old Yang Chenxi and his friends come here to mourn their lost classmates every weekend. The magnitude-8.0 quake took the lives of hundreds of children in Ying Xiu. 30 of them were Yang Chenxi's classmates.

Yang Chenxi, student of Yingxiu Primary School, said, "I think we have our own way out -- to be optimistic one day."

Today, Yang Chenxi and his classmates resumed study at this Tent School. He says he wants to be an architect and help build a more beautiful hometown.

An official told me that after overall assessments, they are planning to raise a new Yingxiu in the same location. The current priority is building permanent homes for survivors.

Kong Hongyong,deputy Party Sec'y of Yingxiu town, said, "We plan to rebuild Yingxiu into a quake memorial park known around the world and make the new town one that's modern, environmental friendly and beautiful."

Community living is one of the practical solutions for survivors. Though many farmers aren't used to living in such close quarters with other families, they understand it's a cost-effective way to get a new home.

Ding Changwen says though he's lost his farmland, he's still a farmer. But he'll become a migrant worker in the future, as the rebuilt village will become a tourist area.

Ding Changwen, farmer of Laojie village, Yingxiu town, said, "I support joint resettlement. I know the biggest advantage is saving farmland."

But for the majority of the locals, they will be spending this winter, and perhaps the following ones, in the temporary shelters.

Ma Daohong's family have been living here for months. They want life to move forward.

Ma Daohong, farmer of Yu Zixi village, Yingxiu town, said, "As we have survived the earthquake, we should be motivated and try our best to rebuild our homes and have better lives."

But Ma acknowledges they could one day be reluctant to leave the shelter, as it's all they have for the time being.

The difficulties in rebuilding their lives and finding employment are taking their toll. In some severely affected ares, like here in Yingxiu, over a fifth of families lost someone, and many are still suffering psychologically. Giving them the long-term care they need will be a major challenge.

Editor:Zhang Ning