"We are not short of funds. Our concern focuses on the quality of the reconstruction projects, which are supposed to be completed within two years. We must guarantee their quality," said Chen.

His remarks were echoed by Wang, who said the reconstruction projects are costing much more than expected.

"Construction materials, transportation costs and labor costs are all expensive," Wang said.

The mudslides in Zhouqu destroyed about half of the community and left 26,470 people living in temporary shelters that were provided by the government, according to local officials.

About 8,000 of those living in temporary homes will be relocated to the provincial capital of Lanzhou. The others will be settled in Fengdie new district, 13 kilometers west of the county seat.

Local officials have been busy organizing construction teams in preparation for the resumption of the building work as temperatures have nudged back above freezing, allowing the work to continue.

Four projects, including a plant to produce drinking water and two drainage networks, have been under construction since November.

In addition to efforts to restore local infrastructure, the prefecture government looking after Zhouqu is helping local people find work outside the county. It has inked an agreement with Wuxi city government in East China's Jiangsu province to hook locals up with work there. So far, more than 20,000 Zhouqu residents have found jobs in the city, according to Chen.

A park that includes a museum, monument and memorial wall is being created to commemorate the lives lost in the catastrophe, Chen said. The names of all 1,765 victims of the mudslide will be carved into the wall so people can have a place to remember their lost family members.

The park will be opened before Tomb-Sweeping Day, which falls on April 5, according to Liu Peng, who is with Gansu Construction Company. The company is in charge of the project.