Nesemo village resident Kunzang, from Nesemo village in Dingri county's Shekar township, soaks herself in the morning sunshine on Monday in her new house, which was built by the government after the 6.8-magnitude quake one year ago. [Photo by Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn]

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."