Police officers on a patrol in Luoguhe Village, Mohe, Heilongjiang Province. Photo: Zhang Tianpei

Editor's Note:

This year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30). A new year begins with new resolve and new momentum. The call to "fight for our dreams and our happiness, and turn our great vision into beautiful realities" continues to inspire actions across China.

In the column "New Year on the Frontlines," reporters from the People's Daily traveled to the grassroots to witness the vitality of a vast nation, see its mountains and rivers in motion, and its fields in abundance, and listen to the stories of people finding fulfillment in both life and work. 

Through these stories, the column seeks to present a vivid portrait of Chinese modernization. 

"Every time we finish our patrol, our eyebrows and eyelashes are covered in frost, so the villagers call us the 'frost flower couple,'" said police officer Shen Xin, who has grown fond of this nickname.

In Luoguhe Village, Mohe in Heilongjiang Province, the wind is bitingly cold. Just as dawn broke, the People's Daily reporter followed Shen Xin and her husband Shi Xianqiang on a patrol along the border river. Each breath hung in the air as white mist, instantly crystallizing into tiny frost on their eyelashes.

Tucked deep in the Greater Khingan Mountains, this remote village could see temperatures as low as minus 53 degrees Celsius. Local officers joke: "We only have two seasons here - winter and 'almost winter.'"

The Luoguhe Village Couple Police Office was established by the Beiji Border Police Station (under the Greater Khingan Mountains Border Management Detachment of the Heilongjiang Entry-Exit Border Inspection General Station) as part of efforts to bring police services closer to the people - creating what they describe as a "police station at the people's doorstep."

Officers of the Luoguhe Village Couple Police Office visit local villagers. Photo: Zhang Tianpei

Five years ago, Shen and Shi carried on the tradition of serving on the border and became the second-generation "border-defending couple" at China's northernmost village. Daily patrols are a vital part of their duty to safeguard border security.

"Stepping into an ice crevice by accident would be disastrous. You could fall into the river and suffer from hypothermia within 10 minutes," Shi recalled with lingering fear after his foot became trapped in an ice crevice during a recent patrol.

The reporter couldn't help but ask, "What is the meaning of patrolling such a sparsely populated, extremely cold area?" Without hesitation, Shi replied, "There are no small matters concerning the border. Guarding it is our responsibility. When people's hearts are united, the border holds firm."

A path in Luoguhe Village leads straight to the riverbank, lined with neatly arranged wooden log houses typical of the region.

"Working in a border village means not only protecting national sovereignty but also keeping the well-being of the villagers close to our hearts," Shi said. He walks through the village several times a day and knows the details of all 71 households by heart.

Villager Wen Mingxia runs a homestay that has seen good business in recent years. "Let me update your police-civilian contact card so you can reach us anytime," Shi said, always prioritizing the villagers' needs.

"It takes over an hour to drive from the village to the town, so things like processing documents or buying medicine can be inconvenient. Every time they patrol, the couple collects our requests and helps us coordinate with the relevant offices," Wen said in gratitude. 

"The 'trivial matters' of the ordinary people are our top priority," Shi noted.

Through their daily visits and patrols, Shi and Shen, the "border-defending couple," have forged deep bonds with the villagers. Today, Luoguhe Village has bestowed on them the title of "Honorary 72nd Household." 

"The motherland is our 'big family.' Nothing about the border is trivial. Only when the 'big family' is at peace can our 'small family' find happiness," Shen said.