Patrolling the Hekou border all year round

Though immigration inspections may seem repetitive, these policemen see importance in what they do.

Businessmen and tourists started to gather at the border immigration inspection station from 8 am in Hekou county of Southwest China's Yunnan province, preparing to cross the border between China and Vietnam.

The Hekou immigration inspection station is open all year, including the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year－the most cherished holiday for family reunions.

Border policeman Li Xu, a former UN peacekeeping soldier, was working during the holiday. The native of Qujing in Yunnan has not returned home for Spring Festival for the past eight years.

The 38-year-old said he owed a lot to his parents, wife and child.

"I can only make it up to them after retirement," he said.

Li said he failed to perform in his duties of taking care of his parents and wife, as well as educating their child.

"Even time for family reunions on days that are not holidays are rare."

Li has been working at the Hekou border immigration inspection station for 13 years.

"Border immigration inspection work seems trivial and repetitive, but also very special and important, demanding zero negligence," he said.

Talking about his experience as a peacekeeping soldier, Li was very humble.

"I just did what peacekeeping soldiers needed to do," he said.