Writer Bi Shumin

Renowned Chinese writer Bi Shumin's new novel, To the Mountains We Belong, has captivated readers with its heartfelt tribute to border-defense soldiers. Penned in her seventies from a nursing home, Bi endured severe health challenges, including four hospitalizations and three medical emergencies to complete this 700,000-character work. 

In an exclusive interview with the Global Times, Bi shared the personal experiences and profound reflections that fueled her dedication, revealing a story steeped in her youthful years and reverence for those who guard China's frontiers.

Bi considers this novel her most significant achievement, the fulfillment of a promise made over 50 years ago. At the age of 16, she joined the army as a medic in Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, serving from ages 16 to 28 amid extreme cold, oxygen scarcity, and an unforgiving terrain. 

The Kunlun Mountains, both a physical and spiritual anchor, shaped her youth. 

"I made a promise to Kunlun," she told the Global Times, a vow to honor the soldiers who safeguarded the country. Her earlier novel in the year of 2009, Kunlun Shang or Death in Kunlun, was a first attempt, but untold stories lingered, urging her to write it again at the age of 70.

The writing process tested her limits. Hospitalized repeatedly, Bi came close to death, yet her resolve never wavered. She discovered the true weight of phrases like "devoting oneself wholeheartedly," as every word flowed from her life's essence. 

Beyond her promise to Kunlun, she sought to illuminate two others: The soldiers' unwavering faith in the face of peril, and their pledge to the motherland, ensuring peace for its people.

Hailed by famous writer Liang Xiaosheng as the first novel to chronicle female border-defense soldiers, To the Mountains We Belong offers readers a fresh perspective. Bi, drawing from her own trials, challenges the notion that border defense is solely a duty of men. 

She and her female comrades hauled heavy loads - guns, medical packs and rations - through ice and snow, proving women's equal valor. Through protagonist Guo Huanjin, Bi conveys a universal truth: With belief, kindness and resilience, anyone can triumph over adversity. "This power of life inspires in any era," she noted.

A scene of the Kunlun Mountains Photos on this page: Courtesy of Bi Shumin

Story of life, death and hope 

There is a profoundly shocking scene depicted in the novel: The heroic male lead is killed after being shot in the abdomen, and his comrade uses a bowl to cover his protruding intestines. 

When his body is taken to the clinic, the bowl is so firmly frozen in place that cannot be removed. Bi said this scene is not fictional but stems from a true story she personally experienced.

She recalled that at the time, when the martyr's body was transported from the frontline of the border defense to the health station, her comrades and her in the squad were responsible for cleaning the body and making arrangements for its placement in the coffin.

The man had a gunshot in his abdomen, and his intestines had protruded, covered by a bowl. The bowl was so thoroughly frozen that no one could get it off. In desperation, they had to cut all the martyr's clothes open from the back to fasten the buttons of his military uniform at the front. And that bowl was buried with him.

 "A few days ago, an elderly person in the nursing home said to me with tears in her eyes, 'How could you be so cruel! You even wrote off the male lead, and he died such a tragic death,'" Bi sighed.

She replied, "People really died there constantly. These are all true events, not fiction." During the war time, countless youth unhesitatingly sacrificed everything for their country and people. Their heroic deeds and noble spirit should not be forgotten.

The seniors at Bi's nursing home have taken turns to read excerpts from the book. Their voices are sorrowful. Although their recitation is far from professional, yet every word and line overflows with genuine emotion touched by the book. 

This aligns with Bi's original intention for the novel: "Let people living in peace and prosperity remember that along the long national borders, there are countless soldiers who have dedicated themselves to safeguarding peace."

Reading matters

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War. In times of peace, do people still possess such a spirit of sacrifice? Bi believes that humanity's finest virtues will be passed down from generation to generation, and the nation's culture and spirit will surely be carried forward and thrive. She is convinced that young people will surpass their predecessors. 

In today's society, although there are no battlefields filled with gun smoke, "countless young people still step forward when facing challenges such as natural disasters and public health emergencies, demonstrating the spirit of selfless dedication and courage to take responsibility. Through their practical actions, they interpret the spirit of dedication and sacrifice in the new era, proving that this spirit still shines brilliantly in times of peace," said she.

"Literature plays a crucial role in recording collective memories and passing down the national spirit" as Bi highlights the enduring importance of reading despite the sensory appeal of videos which engage through visuals and sound but often lack intellectual depth and spread misinformation due to their fragmented, passive nature.

She contrasts this with the unique power of text, which demands active mental engagement and excels in conveying abstract ideas and deep emotions. Classic literature, in particular, offers profound nourishment for the soul and mind, keeping them vibrant and youthful through its rich, time-tested content.

Writer Bi Shumin's new book To the Mountains We Belong