A lesson in determination

Deep in the Karakorum Mountains, 165 students from Xihexiu town in Yecheng county, Kashgar prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, embarked on a challenging journey over snowcapped peaks to reach school for the new semester, which started for them, this year, on Feb 22.

Escorted by local authorities and police to ensure safe passage, the convoy of 45 vehicles took more than five hours to traverse the 60 kilometers from the last pickup spot to arrive at the town's central primary school.

He Haidong, deputy director of Yecheng's traffic police department, and his colleagues inspected the eight buses for the mission, to make sure they were in working order. "This semester actually kicked off on Feb 13, but we had to delay the schedule of picking up students due to heavy snow," says He, who has taken on this task for eight consecutive years.

He adds that police inspect the road a week in advance to make sure it is navigable, and drivers must be experienced and familiar with mountainous areas. Local authorities also deployed snowblowers to clear the route.

Thanks to their efforts, the students on board were able to feel excited about school.

Right on time, the convoy appeared at the gate of the primary school at 6 pm, where the principal, teachers and other students were waiting in welcome.

When the school breaks for the summer holidays, the convoy will undertake the return journey.

Xihexiu town is connected to the county seat via a 127-km road. It is one of the most precipitous sections of the Xinjiang-Xizang Highway with more than 60 bends, and it passes over a ridge of 3,500 meters above the sea level. The road is flanked by snowcapped peaks year-round. As the only route, it is the lifeline for the nine villages along the way, and underscores the isolation and the harsh conditions residents must overcome to access educational facilities.

In 2008, Yecheng's public security bureau decided to form an escort team to protect students going to school. Local transportation and education authorities help arrange vehicles and drivers. The trip is carried out four times a year, covering over 250 km each time, and has safely transported more than 4,500 students over the last 15 years.