There　is　a　high　risk　of　an　economic　downturn　after　the　end　of　reconstruction　efforts　following　natural　hazards.　High　levels　of　external　assistance　can　sometimes　weaken　local　autonomy　and　self-sufficiency,　creating　the　pre-conditions　for　a　forgotten　phase.　However,　through　the　three-year　Paired　Assistance　to　Disaster-Affected　Areas　project　(PADAA),　the　economy　of　Wenchuan　County　in　China　recovered　to　its　pre-earthquake　levels　within　two　years　and　has　shown　clear　signs　of　economic　sustainability.　Through　a　qualitative　research　approach　based　on　the　analysis　of　expert　interviews,　secondary　data,　and　relevant　documentation,　this　study　discusses　the　phases　of　the　reconstruction　process　following　the　Wenchuan　earthquake,　and　the　factors　behind　the　success　of　the　PADAA　process　in　enabling　economic　sustainability.　Some　of　the　identified　factors　include:　(1)　the　reshaping　of　local　livelihoods　and　economic　structure　through　a　large　number　of　investments　in　public　infrastructure;　(2)　knowledge　acquisition,　self-adjustment,　and　the　ability　to　meet　the　needs　of　a　new　economy　and　social　development　through　institutional　reform　and　openness;　(3)　increasing　amounts　of　attracted　investments　and　the　development　of　sustainable　industrial　structures　through　the　improvement　of　the　local　government＇s　economic　governance.