The reconstruction of quake-hit Beichuan County was completed on September 25. Following a ceremony to mark the handover from the construction team, New Beichuan County was officially opened.

New Beichuan County officially opened

The total cost of the first phase of rebuilding was 15.37 billion yuan (US$2.4 billion) of which 9.5 billion yuan was spent on infrastructure, affordable housing and public service facilities.

The next phase, scheduled to complete in 2015, will enlarge the county and improve public services. A further phase of accelerated urbanization and industrialization of the surrounding areas will complete in 2020.

According to the Publicity Department of Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County, 11,084 affordable and low-rent houses were built in a single year. With per capita green areas reaching 16 square meters, New Beichuan will be a truly livable city, the department said.

Beichuan County was one of the areas worst affected by the May 12, 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. The ruins of Beichuan became a symbol of the massive destruction and loss of life caused by the quake.