New houses in Gansu´s quake-affected zone maintain Tibetan style

Source: Xinhua | 05-12-2009 16:11

BEIJING, May 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Jin Chunlian's new house, now still under construction, is sturdier than the one she had before the massive earthquake that occurred in Sichuan Province on May 12, 2008. The outlook and the interior decoration of her new home will look like exactly her old one. The wall of the first storey is built of bricks and stones, and the frame of the second storey is made of logs.

Photo taken on April 19, 2009, shows two villagers in  Maigongshan Village, Tielou Township, Wenxian County, Gansu Province, smile while rebuilding their new houses. (Xinhua Photo)

While the outside of the house is carved with delicate patterns, the interior of the house is decorated with thangkas, scroll paintings framed in cloth or silk with various religious functions. All this helps the house maintain its traditional Tibetan style.

Longnan City and the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in southwestern Gansu Province were also hit hard by the deadly May 12 earthquake that took place in neighboring Sichuan Province last year. The places that were hit worst by the quake were Danqu County, Diebu County and some Tibetan townships in Wenxian County.

In Huazhuangba Village, Zhongzhai Township, Wenxian County, the houses of the 80 households of the Tibetans who moved there after the quake were all rebuilt in the Tibetan style. The newly built Tibetan houses have become a distinctive scene in Gansu's quake-affected zone.