As early as in the second day after the earthquake, Professor Wu Zhiqiang specially telephoned the Construction Department of Sichuan Provincial Government and expressed that he would, on a voluntary basis, participate in emergency plan and reconstruction plan for the most quake-hit areas such as Wenchuan, Beichuan and Dujiangyan. On May 18, as a member of advanced team of Tongji University for reconstruction plan in quake-hit areas, Professor Wu reached at the quake-hit areas in Sichuan Province.

Wu Zhiqiang said, the reconstruction after disaster was divided into three stages. Of which, the first stage was tent stage, i.e. evacuation stage; the second stage was transitional resettlement stage, and the third stage was reconstruction and development stage. "Currently, the most important work was to work out the resettlement plan under the general arrangement of the Ministry of Construction."

According to the words of Wu Zhiqiang, all the experts of the team would be divided into four planning groups and fourteen local subgroups. In addition, there are three "Specialty groups" consisting of experts in such fields as historic building, geographical structure and disaster prevention of pipelines. Every local subgroup would conduct the location selection in individual towns and try to complete the location selection in one day and complete the construction drawings in the next day in order to leave more time for the construction teams. The whole planning work should be completed by May 30.

Wu Zhiqiang said, "The plan for resettlement of the people in 40 towns should be completed as quick as possible, therefore, the tasks of location selection is very urgent and difficult. The reason why we make such pledge is to present a gift for Children's Day to those children in quake-hit areas, and let them to see the new home in construction, see the hope and bring the cares of the Central Committee of Communist Party and the Ministry of Construction to the quake-affected people in physical."