On September 19 of the same year, the State Council, China's Central Government, formally launched a three-year overall plan for post-earthquake restoration and reconstruction in the affected areas. The plan, with an estimated cost of 1 trillion yuan ($152.9 billion), became one of the largest recovery projects in the world.

Three years later, as the project wraps up, Wenchuan is in the spotlight again, an example of stunning change created through a Chinese model of disaster relief.

All-out assistance

The rubble and tents disappeared, to be replaced by new buildings and widened roads across the region. One is amazed by the speed of physical and economic recovery of Wenchuan.