Editor's note: From Sept 11 to Sept 20, four China Daily reporters went to the Sino-Russian border and Sino-DPRK border in three provinces in Northeast China. They traveled more than 4,300 kilometers along the border area to cover the life and work of soldiers stationed there. A series of reports will be released from the front line.

Border soldiers patrol Heixiazi Island in Heilongjiang province in September. JIANG DONG / CHINA DAILY

 

As the autumn fishing-ban approaches in border rivers in Heilongjiang province, frontier soldiers were preparing to patrol and protect the environment, according to officers in the area.

A fishing ban takes effect twice a year, during which all fishing is forbidden along the Heilong and Wusuli rivers on China's border with Russia.

The summer ban was in July, and the autumn fishing ban will be from Monday to Oct 20.

Frontier soldiers of the Heilongjiang military district of the People's Liberation Army stationed in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province are busy this time every year because of the patrols, said Liu Yichen, head of the frontier post in Mohe county, on Sept 19.

The soldiers' duty is preventing fishing during the period, keeping people from both countries from illegally crossing the border, and monitoring suspect vehicles and airplanes, Liu said.

Liu's post is in the northernmost settlement in China, known as China's "Arctic Village". Usually, soldiers in the post patrol 70 km along the Heilong River, Liu said.

Jiang Nan, the political instructor for the company in the area, said that border patrols in the area will increase during the fishing ban.

Advanced equipment

To increase the efficiency of the patrol, more advanced equipment is being supplied to the frontier soldiers.

In Heihe city, which is also near the Heilong River, the frontier forces developed a motor sled that can be used on land or snow, according to company commander Zhao Weijun.

The soldiers' video monitoring system can watch the border for 24 hours a day, making the patrol more efficient, said Wang Jiteng, 34, who is in charge of maintaining the system.

When suspicious people are seen in the video, a report will be sent to a reaction team instantly, Wang Jiteng said.

"In 2005, the video monitoring system was black-and-white, but the system in our company is one of the best in the Heilongjiang military district, with more advanced functions," said Wang.

Because the winters are very cold, a computer-controlled heater was installed in the Mohe base. And the station vehicle is equipped with a heater and kitchenware.

Frontier soldiers have access to the Internet for learning.

The National Digital Library of China settled in the Arctic military camp in Mohe in January 2011, said Jiang Nan, the political instructor.

A digital newspaper was launched for the frontier soldiers, who like to read about their hometowns, Jiang said.

Challenge of tourism

Another challenge for the patrol is the number of tourists. It has been estimated that more than 1 million tourists visit Mohe annually, with August and September as the peak season. Patrols are more difficult then because the visitors can easily cross the border, said Liu Yichen, the head of the frontier post.

Liu said the frontier soldiers will teach the tourists about border regulations, which also provides a good opportunity to improve the soldiers' image.

Flocks of tourists have resulted in more garbage in the area along the Heilong River. Soldiers will help dispose of the trash and work to prevent littering.

On Heixiazi Island in Fuyuan county, the problem is more obvious to frontier soldiers.

The 335-square-kilometer island in the confluence of the Heilong and Wusuli rivers was the last disputed part of the Sino-Russian border.

China and Russia placed border markers on Heixiazi Island in 2008. Under a bilateral agreement, half of the 335-square-kilometer island close to Fuyuan county belongs to China, the other half to Russia.

Under a joint agreement the two developed the island into an eco-tourism zone, which opened to tourists in 2011.

Because many tourists do not know border regulations, soldiers need to inform them during the island patrols, said Wang Lubin, 26, the squad leader of soldiers stationed in the island.

Heixiazi Island has a unique habitat and diverse wetlands. To protect the environment, soldiers on the island have placed banners and posters in key areas to provide information for visitors and tourists.

To maintain the island's ecosystem, the frontier forces wrote regulations on construction and garbage disposal.

Ren Chongfu, a soldier on the island, said soldiers will help dispose of garbage and teach tourists.

Contact the writer at jinhaixing@chinadaily.com.cn