On January 19, the first day of the new year in the Xizang Autonomous Region in the southwest of the Chinese mainland, villagers of Jidui in Dingjie County gathered for a momentous photo session. From a full-village group shot to family portraits and individual snapshots, the community came together in joyful reunion to welcome the festival in their brand-new homes.
Ten months after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Xizang Autonomous Region, the 33 affected families in Jidui Village moved into their new residences in November 2025. With cameras in hand, each household captured their warm reunions, and these images also documented the village's renewed appearance.
These portraits signaled more than a fond commemorative tradition; they illustrated the resilience of Jidui's residents and the power of community solidarity. As smiling faces stood before newly built doorways, the photos offered a vivid testament to life moving forward.
For globally minded readers, Jidui's celebrations highlight how cultural traditions and collective memory converge—turning simple snapshots into symbols of recovery and hope as the village looks toward the future.
Reference(s):
Moments in new homes: New Year portraits of villagers in Jidui, Xigaze
cgtn.com
