The Wenchuan earthquake in 2008 was the most destructive and wide spread major earthquake disaster in modern Chinese history, and the issues of reconstruction after the disaster are the subject of much research. One of the most important issues following the earthquake has been the reconstruction of people’s livelihoods. China is a Chinese Characteristic Socialism country and the role of China's government is very important in this.

This seminar will look at Beichuan, which is a county that has been greatly affected by the Wenchuan earthquake, as a case study, to research and analyse the current roles of the Chinese government in the reconstruction of the Beichuan people’s livelihood after the earthquake and find solutions to the problems that occurred in China.

Zifan Yang is a Master of Law (Demography) student from the Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in China and has been a Visitor in the Australian Demographic & Social Research Institute for the past 12 months.