Li Jingguo, a researcher at the Urban Development and Environmental Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), told the Global Times that reconstruction of the quake-hit area should be consistent with the local conditions.

He said Yushu is a region prone to natural disasters and climate change and post-quake reconstruction must be adapted to the local ecological conditions.

Saturday marked the last day that rescuers would dig through rubble in attempts to find survivors buried alive.

The provincial government has already started reconstruction work by clearing away the debris of collapsed buildings, reopening schools and repairing damaged infrastructure in Yushu.

Chen Xuanjian was one of more than 800 soldiers from Gansu heading to Yushu for reconstruction work.

"We are clearing up streets, and collecting wood and bricks for reconstruction purposes," he told China National Radio.

To support Yushu's rebuilding work, domestic aid, including tents and medical supplies, has been rushed to Yushu to shelter those left homeless.

About 12,600 people in 34 teams nationwide took part in the rescue efforts, and a total of 59,093 tents and 207,959 quilts had been distributed to survivors in the quake zone by Sunday, the vice governor said.

The goods and materials met most of the needs of the survivors, Zhang said.

Li Kai, a spokesman of the Artillery Brigade of Lanzhou Military Command, in charge of transporting supplies from Xining, capital of Qinghai Province, to Yushu, said that the urgent task is transporting as many mobile plank houses as possible to the quake-hit area so that more students could resume classes.

"The major road that links Xining and Yushu is already clogged with too much traffic carrying relief supplies to Yushu," he told the Global Times.

He said solar batteries are among the badly needed supplies for reconstruction work to begin.