When the devastating earthquake hit Nyanang county in the Tibet autonomous region, more than 400 residents of the county's Tsongdu village were gathered for religious rituals in the yard of a monastery.

"All of the houses completely collapsed. We are so fortunate that nobody died during the disaster," said Dawa Dondrub.

"All the elders of the village were attending a sacrificial ceremony, and the youngsters were planting trees. Thanks to that, we all survived," said the 66-year-old.