Temblor's deathly shadow finally exorcised

Students from Hongbai Primary School enjoy their after-class activities. In 2008, the disaster killed 159 students and eight teachers at the school. [Photo by Huang Yiming / China Daily]

But while all students have recovered, some teachers still grapple with depression, Chen said.

"Perhaps adults have longer memories."

Chen said the children's recovery gives him solace.

"None of our children graduated with trauma," Chen said.

"So I'm content. I can let out a huge sigh of relief."

The first graders at the time of the quake are now sixth graders. The others have gone on to junior and senior high schools.

A huge part of the emotional recovery came from tai chi, Chen said. The martial art's practice is part of the quake's legacy that has spread from the school to the community.

"We needed to restore mental stability," Chen said.

"We tried other sports but found only tai chi worked. It makes people slower, calmer, quieter."

A master from Deyang city came to instruct the teachers and students.

"We introduced it to help the students overcome trauma but found it did so much for their bodies and minds that we've continued it as a required course," Chen said.

"It's both exercise and a cultural backdrop. Our kids teach grannies."

Hongbai town's Party secretary Huang Zhuo says cultural activities, such as tai chi, are integral to the recovery, much of which has relied on tourism.

"We need culture to build our travel industry," he said.

He also asks locals to study calligraphy.

Ultimately, Hongbai's reconstruction and development isn't solely the task of officials, Huang believes.

"Reconstruction requires work from both the government and ordinary citizens," he said.

"Hongbai's people have done their part. There's no trace of the quake. Our town is more beautiful than ever. People are hopeful."

While Hongbai's primary school students won't pay an official visit to the quake graves this year, Huang and another official will lay a flower wreath.

"We haven't told anyone else because we want to keep it low-key," he said.

"It would be disrespectful to make it a flashy ceremony with a lot of officials."

Many employees from Dongfang Turbine Co Ltd planned to travel from the new factory built in Sichuan's Bajiao town to the site of the destroyed factory in Hanwang on Tomb Sweeping Day.