Lost lives

In addition to the pressures imposed by long-distance relationships and marriages, the soldiers have other challenges to face, such as a lack of medicine and the dangers posed by encounters with snakes, leopards and wild boars.

In 1952, a team of officials and soldiers from the county seat of Gongshan Dulong and Nu autonomous county, traversed the snow-capped Gaoligong Mountain. When they arrived in Dulongjiang, the local people were so scared that they ran away and hid in the mountains. The team lacked funds and so they traded medicine for salt and other daily necessities with any Derung people they could find. As their interaction with the locals increased, the locals became more used to their presence.

In 1978, a frontier station was established in Bapo village, but was moved to Kongdang village in 2003. Since then, eight soldiers have lost their lives in the rarely visited region.

In 1964, Zhang Pu, was diagnosed with acute appendicitis. Although the condition could easily be cured in the outside world, the township had no operating facilities or medicine. Zhou Enlai, China's premier at that time, arranged for a Chinese plane to fly through Myanmar airspace and drop medicine and equipment, but it was too late.

In 1977, Zhang Zhifan, aged 18, died when he fell into the valley as he explored new routes for the villagers. His body was never found. In 1991, Zhuang Yun was killed when he fell from a cliff edge as he helped locals cut firewood. Ten years later, Yu Jianhui, 20, who was helping to build a new road, fell into the Dulong River and drowned.

Every year, the soldiers pay their respects to their lost comrades at the graveyard in Bapo village. Although the ceremony consists of just a cigarette, a cup of wine and a formal bow of recognition, it's performed with due dignity.

Despite all this, the soldiers remain. Ma Guoxin, 50, of Maku village in the southern part of Dulongjiang, said his live has been saved by the soldiers on three separate occasions

In November 2002, Ma gashed his calf, losing a large amount of blood as a result. The flow was only staunched by Long Neiqing, the medical assistant at the station, who rushed to his aid late at night.

In 1983, Ma was bitten on the foot by a venomous snake. Another medical assistant, Fan Shide, was forced to suck out the venom because no anti-venom was available. Finally, in July 1996, Ma survived the same scenario when another soldier sucked out the venom.

"My mother gave birth to me once, but the soldiers have saved me three times," said Ma.

When Huang Jianfeng returned home in November, his son was exhilarated and was proud when his dad took him to the kindergarten the next day.

For Huang, it's a bittersweet period: "I'm going back to Dulongjiang on Dec 10, so I'm working hard to make my wife and son happy, because they won't see me for another six months."

Guo Anfei and Xie Yong contributed to this story.

Contact the reporter at huyongqi@chinadaily.com.cn