As recovery efforts progress in quake-stricken Dingri County in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, residents are moving into newly built shelters, while relief supplies continue to arrive and be distributed.
Following the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Dingri County, rebuilding efforts are prioritizing transitional housing for the victims.
As of Wednesday evening, approximately 5,000 of the 13,000 planned prefabricated houses have been completed. Additionally, construction of a new shelter site has begun in the heavily affected Changsuo Township.
Building a single prefabricated house typically takes around six minutes. Afterward, with the installation of water, electricity, heating, and fire hazard inspections, the area can be transformed into a functional shelter zone in just one to two days, ready to accommodate disaster-affected residents.
In addition to housing, essential supplies are being rapidly deployed. A total of 25 types of relief materials have been distributed, including over 30,000 heating devices, nearly 9,000 stoves, 260,000 blankets, 180,000 sets of clothing, and over 900 tons of staple foods, meat, and vegetables.
A warehouse near Xigaze West Railway Station serves as a hub for receiving donations from local governments and private donors. Spanning some 35,000 square meters, the warehouse operates 24 hours a day, with staff sorting and dispatching goods across five designated sections.
From the point of origin, shipments are tracked by dedicated personnel to ensure timely delivery. Information is synced with the county-level material support team, which assigns priorities based on need and instructions. It takes just three to four hours for goods to be received and distributed, with over 30,000 items already delivered to those affected.
The 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County at 09:05 on January 8, causing extensive damage. At least 126 people have been confirmed dead, while 188 others reportedly injured.
Quake victims move into temporary housing, relief supplies distributed
Film-themed tourist destinations across China saw a surge in visitor numbers during the three-day Qingming Festival holiday, as the traditional festival overlapped with new spring break in several regions, creating a longer travel window and boosting domestic tourism.
The Tangcheng Film and Television Base in Xiangyang City in central China's Hubei Province, laid on extra events to take advantage of the overlapping holidays, resulting in a healthy rise in visitor numbers.
"During this year's Qingming holiday, we received a total of 71,800 visits, up 24 percent year on year compared with 2025. Thanks to the spring break policy this year, our peak tourism season started earlier than before. It also brought in more cross-provincial tourists to our scenic area, and both the visitor volume and the proportion of tourists from other provinces increased," said Wang Liang, general manager of the Tangcheng Film and Television Base.
To entertain the visitors, Tangcheng hosted a series of all-day interactive performances and themed programs, offering tourists an immersive experience built around traditional culture and film production settings.
Similar scenes were reported in east China's Zhejiang Province, where the Hengdian World Studios, one of the largest active film and television studios in the world, also welcomed a wave of tourists.
Family visitors, particularly parents traveling with children, were the main drivers of the tourism boom, according to the scenic area.
"We are here in Hengdian mainly thanks to the spring break. My child has worked hard at school so I think she can take a break here," a tourist said.
Local hospitality business operators in the area also noted visitor flows were significantly higher than in previous years, with family travel rising sharply.
Several provinces across the country introduced their first-ever spring break this year. The break typically lasts two or three days, but falls at different times. In some areas, the break comes just before the three-day Qingming Festival in early April, while in others it extends into the May Day holiday or is combined with weekends, resulting in a break of five to eight days.
The new vacation not only allows children to connect with nature in spring and reduces students' academic burden, but also creates a window for family travel, which is expected to boost tourism and consumption.
Overlapping holidays boost tourism at China's film-themed attractions
