Reconstruction work began Tuesday in quake-devastated Yushu County in northwestern China's Qinghai Province.

The 7.1-magnitude earthquake that hit April 14 destroyed most of the structures in the county's Gyegu Town, the quake's epicenter.

Governor Luo Huining declared the start of the reconstruction program Tuesday morning at a foundation-laying ceremony held for the new neighborhoods to be built in Trangu and Ganda villages.

The two villages were almost completely razed to the ground in the quake.

A new rural neighborhood will be built on the debris of the two villages with planning, first-rate infrastructure and beauty, Luo said.

Living conditions in the villages will be improved compared to before the quake, Luo said.

Design of the new neighborhood will be in line with the principles of putting the people first, conserving the ecological system and respecting religion and ethnic culture, Luo added.

The rebuilding of Trangu and Ganda villages will be a pilot project for the whole quake-devastated region's reconstruction program, according to Luo.

(Xinhua News Agency May 4, 2010)