Guardians of the forests

After graduating from college in 1990, the then 21-year-old Zhao became a forest police officer and has dedicated himself to safeguarding the Greater Hinggan Mountains area in Alongshan. From the biting cold of winter to the challenges posed by insects like mosquitoes in summer, ticks and horseflies during spring, the officers, like Zhao, face myriad obstacles in their daily duties.

Despite the harsh conditions and rugged terrain, the daily patrol of Zhao and Li includes nearly 100 kilometers by car and more than 30 km on foot.

For Li, a post-1990s generation police officer, she is proud of her job, although it is quite different from those of the brave figures portrayed in crime-fighting movies, which inspired her to pursue a career in law enforcement.