A QINGDAO man has dedicated 10 years to fire prevention in the Daqing Mountain, the city’s largest robinia forest base.

    Located in the northwest of Qingdao’s Laixi, the Daqing Mountain is the most remote part of the city.

    Zhao Shukui, formerly an official with Nanshu Township, Laixi, was assigned to the Daqing Mountain Park to lead a fire-fighting team in 2001.

    Living in undesirable conditions, Zhao and his team have had a frugal and unexciting lifestyle.

    There was no electricity in the mountain, and they had to walk miles to fetch water.

    In summer, there were so many mosquitos that a thick mosquito net did little help. In winter, when the roads were covered by snow and transportation stops, they had to eat cold buns and pickled vegetables.

    Many people in the fire-fighting team came and left, but Zhao has persisted in the job.

    Wearing a fire-proof suit, Zhao has patrolled the mountain on his motorbike each day of the past 10 years.

    Upon the detection of a fire, Zhao uses his walkie-talkie to summon his team.

    Zhao has covered an average of 18 kilometers on each day of the past 10 years. He has worn out two motorbikes.

    The man feels most sorry for his wife, a farmer who is left alone to plough their land and raise two children. When his son got married and Zhao went back home to celebrate earlier this year, he stayed only three days with his family.

    However, Zhao’s determination paid off when the Daqing Mountain became well-known for its forests after years without a major fire.

    The mountain receives more than 30,000 tourists in spring and autumn each year.

    (Li Hao, Liu Kunfeng)