The picture shows the 222 meanders on the way toward the No. 372 boundary marker. (Photo by Li Zhiyuan)

Heavy snow falls time and time again since early winter, covering tightly the Mount Nebesnaya at an altitude of 3,665 meters. The frontier soldiers assigned to the Honghaigou Border Defense Company of a border defense regiment under the PLA Xinjiang Military Command have to climb up the mountain every year to reach the China-Kazakhstan boundary marker ranked No. 372 for border patrol.

Even with today's convenient traffic, it takes a whole day for the troops to make a round trip. Over the previous decades when there were no real roads along the patrol line, the frontier soldiers and civilian border guards had to head to the area by riding horses or on foot going through a variety of terrains and crossing various mountains.

Hello, 372

Every one of the Honghaigou Border Defense Company had heard that there are 222 meanders on the asphalted mountainous road leading to the No. 372 boundary marker, but no one had really counted the number.

In July 2022, Corporal Miao Zhuang went on his first patrol. During the three-hour vehicle trip, he silently counted in his heart on the road."There are indeed a total of 222 meanders," he declared.

Bai Yunlu, the driver of the military vehicle, was very happy to hear that the story of the 222 meanders was finally confirmed. In the past few years, he, as a driver, had traveled forth and back on this route dozens of times, but never had the time to enjoy the roadside scenery, not to mention counting those extremely dangerous curves.

Steep and winding, the road close to marker No. 372 was covered with heavy snow all year round, which was only available from late May to early September every year. That day, Miao Zhuang finally had the opportunity to witness the 222 meanders.

Before setting out, Bai Yunlu kindly shared with everyone about his experience in preventing carsickness. Especially, he reminded them to be vigilant and alert to the "roadblocks of fallen trees and rocks" caused by avalanches.

Always on the way

Until today, Sergeant First Class Chen Jian still vividly remembered his first patrol to the No. 372 boundary marker in July 2011.

Before the asphalted mountainous roads were built in 2013, frontier soldiers with the Honghaigou Border Defense Company could only ride horses to get to the No. 372 boundary marker for patrol.

He together with another 13fellows and a local border guard formed a patrol team and headed for the No. 372 each with a horse.

After about two-hour traveling, the hail fell from the sky. In addition, the roads were spread with sharp gravel. The team members were worried that the gravel would injure horse legs, so they dismounted and led the horses on foot. The hail soon made everyone's clothes soaked wet, cold and damp.

"When we arrived at the boundary marker, we ate there. Although there was just solid food hard and cold, we enjoyed ourselves. Standing in front of the boundary marker, we could still see our company," Sergeant First Class Chen Jian said. “When we returned to the company at 11:00 pm on that day, it was found that everyone's combat boots had been covered with slits cutting with gravel.”

He has always remembered what Jin Fanyang, a former squad leader, had said. "As border troops, we should measure every inch of land with our feet."

Military and civilians unity as a family

"In the mountains, we regard each other as relatives. We have to help each other in many aspects", said Lyu Gang, a border guard, who lived next to the Honghaigou Border Defense Company. He was just 16 years old when he firstly joined the patrol to the No. 372 boundary marker.

He would never foget that there were many winters when the heavy snow closed the mountains and people could not go out for a month. With no food left at home, the villagers turned to the company for help. The company would always send the badly needed rice, flour and edible oil to the villagers' homes the first time. When the supplies for the company stationed there come, Lyu Gang and other border guards inhabiting there would help the troops to carry the supplies in return without hesitation.

It is precisely because of the ties of comradeship that Lyu Gang had always been on call whenever the troops needed to patrol. Even in the early years when there were no subsidies for these border guards, he was willing to climb the mountains on horseback with the frontier soldiers. "This is my home. Only when the border is safe and sound, my home can be safe and sound," he said.

Every summer, when many herdsmen moved to the nearby mountains to graze, the military doctors of the company would go to carry out itinerant health care for the herdsmen and deliver medicine, during which they could also learn whether there was something abnormal nearby.

Along the 222-meander road, there are more than 30 herdsman households living and grazing. Bai Yunlu the driver knew that every time he drove up the mountains, there would be Kazakh children paying salutes to the military vehicles. "When we went uphill, they came to salute, so as we return," he remembered. At that time, Bai Yunlu felt very proud and warm. He would respond to the children with his whistle. The interaction has grown to be a nice agreement between them.

The recruits on duty for the first time solemnly make an oath in front of the border marker. (Photo by Mou Kelei)