An aerial view of the county in May. CAO ZHIZHENG/FOR CHINA DAILY

"Our village is gone for good, but we are still neighbors and live close to each other," Xue Yuying says.

After the disaster, a total of 5.3 billion yuan has been earmarked to Zhouqu for 186 reconstruction projects by the Chinese central government.

Xue Yuying has got used to taking a pause and casting a glance at the other side of the valley on his way back home from the spring. "My house used to be there. I was born in that house and lived there most of my life."

After he woke up his two granddaughters, made them breakfast and sent them to school, Xue Yuying went to visit his old neighbor Li Haiyun. The 54-year-old now lives alone.

Li used to be a cook and was quite popular in Yueyuan village. "Whenever there were weddings or funerals held in the village, Li would be hired to cook the banquets," Xue Yuying recalls.

In the mudslide, Li lost his wife and son, his job, as well as his farmland and house. "I was completely down-and-out at that time. I didn't even have a change of clothes," he says.

To help farmers like Li earn a living, the county government provided job training programs, including car maintenance, housekeeping and electric welding for the survivors, since most of them were not willing to leave their hometown.

After attending a training course, Li found jobs at construction sites near the county, earning around 3,000 yuan a month. He moved into his new apartment in 2013 and spent heavily on its decoration, making up his mind to move on.

"Life goes on and it seems to get better," Li says. In his apartment, every piece of furniture is carefully wiped clean. He likes growing flowers and is known for his green thumb.

In Chinese, yueyuan means "full moon", which symbolizes completeness and reunion.

"After a decade of struggling, we are trying to let go of the past and start a new life," says Xue Yuying. "After all, the moon will turn full one day."