Each time Tan Guoqiang raises his eyes to the picture hanging on the wall of his office, the principal sees the beaming faces of his 437 pupils and teachers.

Fewer than half of those people are alive now.

The May 12 earthquake in Sichuan province last year destroyed Yingxiu primary school, located in the quake epicenter of Wenchuan county, killing more than 200 pupils and teachers.