CHINA / SOCIETY
Rural doctor safeguards villagers' health in reservoir area of E China's Anhui
By Xinhua Published: Aug 24, 2026 09:33 AM
Doctor Yu Jiajun (R) treats villager Wang Jiabi at her home in Qishan Village of Mabu Town, Jinzhai County of Lu'an City, east China's Anhui Province, June 26, 2026. Haidao Village of Qishan Village is located deep in the mountains near the Xianghongdian Reservoir area in Jinzhai County of Lu'an City, east China's Anhui Province. Yu Jiajun, the only village doctor, takes charge of health care for more than 500 villagers there and in the surrounding areas. In the past, there was no clinic. Villagers had to row a boat for two or three hours to go to the health center in the Mabu Town to see the doctor. After graduating from a medical school, following his father's last wishes, Yu Jiajun gave up his job in the city and returned to the village where he was born to work as a village doctor in the year of 2000. In order to visit his patients timely, Yu and his wife set up their home on a wooden boat, named Haidao Clinic, and provided medical care to villagers on the boat. In recent years, many changes have taken place. The clinic was rebuilt in 2019. With the help of the local government, a standardized diagnosis and treatment building was set up on the shore. Yu's work focus has also shifted from emergency treatment in the past to offering medical service for chronic diseases. However, Yu still need to drive his boat to make visits, as he has been always doing in the past years. Since working as the village doctor, he has changed four boats, conducting more than 20,000 medical consultations at patients' home. Yu joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2014. As a village doctor, he has been fulfilling his own promise to his father and taking the responsibility as a member of the Communist Party. As long as people need me, I will keep working here, Yu said. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)

Doctor Yu Jiajun (R) treats villager Wang Jiabi at her home in Qishan Village of Mabu Town, Jinzhai County of Lu'an City, east China's Anhui Province, June 26, 2026. Haidao Village of Qishan Village is located deep in the mountains near the Xianghongdian Reservoir area in Jinzhai County of Lu'an City, east China's Anhui Province. Yu Jiajun, the only village doctor, takes charge of health care for more than 500 villagers there and in the surrounding areas. In the past, there was no clinic. Villagers had to row a boat for two or three hours to go to the health center in the Mabu Town to see the doctor. After graduating from a medical school, following his father's last wishes, Yu Jiajun gave up his job in the city and returned to the village where he was born to work as a village doctor in the year of 2000. In order to visit his patients timely, Yu and his wife set up their home on a wooden boat, named "Haidao Clinic," and provided medical care to villagers on the boat. In recent years, many changes have taken place. The clinic was rebuilt in 2019. With the help of the local government, a standardized diagnosis and treatment building was set up on the shore. Yu's work focus has also shifted from emergency treatment in the past to offering medical service for chronic diseases. However, Yu still need to drive his boat to make visits, as he has been always doing in the past years. Since working as the village doctor, he has changed four boats, conducting more than 20,000 medical consultations at patients' home. Yu joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2014. As a village doctor, he has been fulfilling his own promise to his father and taking the responsibility as a member of the Communist Party. "As long as people need me, I will keep working here," Yu said. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)


Doctor Yu Jiajun prepares to leave by boat after a home visit in Qishan Village of Mabu Town, Jinzhai County of Lu'an City, east China's Anhui Province, Aug. 4, 2026. Haidao Village of Qishan Village is located deep in the mountains near the Xianghongdian Reservoir area in Jinzhai County of Lu'an City, east China's Anhui Province. Yu Jiajun, the only village doctor, takes charge of health care for more than 500 villagers there and in the surrounding areas. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan)

Doctor Yu Jiajun prepares to leave by boat after a home visit in Qishan Village of Mabu Town, Jinzhai County of Lu'an City, east China's Anhui Province, Aug. 4, 2026. Haidao Village of Qishan Village is located deep in the mountains near the Xianghongdian Reservoir area in Jinzhai County of Lu'an City, east China's Anhui Province. Yu Jiajun, the only village doctor, takes charge of health care for more than 500 villagers there and in the surrounding areas. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan)



An aerial drone photo taken on June 26, 2026 shows a view of the Haidao Village in Jinzhai County of Lu'an City, east China's Anhui Province. Haidao Village of Qishan Village is located deep in the mountains near the Xianghongdian Reservoir area in Jinzhai County of Lu'an City, east China's Anhui Province. Yu Jiajun, the only village doctor, takes charge of health care for more than 500 villagers there and in the surrounding areas. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)

An aerial drone photo taken on June 26, 2026 shows a view of the Haidao Village in Jinzhai County of Lu'an City, east China's Anhui Province. Haidao Village of Qishan Village is located deep in the mountains near the Xianghongdian Reservoir area in Jinzhai County of Lu'an City, east China's Anhui Province. Yu Jiajun, the only village doctor, takes charge of health care for more than 500 villagers there and in the surrounding areas. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)



This photo taken on Feb. 16, 2014 shows the Haidao Clinic built on a boat in Qishan Village of Mabu Town, Jinzhai County of Lu'an City, east China's Anhui Province. Haidao Village of Qishan Village is located deep in the mountains near the Xianghongdian Reservoir area in Jinzhai County of Lu'an City, east China's Anhui Province. Yu Jiajun, the only village doctor, takes charge of health care for more than 500 villagers there and in the surrounding areas. (Photo by Chen Li/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Feb. 16, 2014 shows the "Haidao Clinic" built on a boat in Qishan Village of Mabu Town, Jinzhai County of Lu'an City, east China's Anhui Province. Haidao Village of Qishan Village is located deep in the mountains near the Xianghongdian Reservoir area in Jinzhai County of Lu'an City, east China's Anhui Province. Yu Jiajun, the only village doctor, takes charge of health care for more than 500 villagers there and in the surrounding areas. (Photo by Chen Li/Xinhua)



This photo taken on Feb. 16, 2014 shows the Haidao Clinic built on a boat in Qishan Village of Mabu Town, Jinzhai County of Lu'an City, east China's Anhui Province. Haidao Village of Qishan Village is located deep in the mountains near the Xianghongdian Reservoir area in Jinzhai County of Lu'an City, east China's Anhui Province. Yu Jiajun, the only village doctor, takes charge of health care for more than 500 villagers there and in the surrounding areas. (Photo by Chen Li/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Feb. 16, 2014 shows the "Haidao Clinic" built on a boat in Qishan Village of Mabu Town, Jinzhai County of Lu'an City, east China's Anhui Province. Haidao Village of Qishan Village is located deep in the mountains near the Xianghongdian Reservoir area in Jinzhai County of Lu'an City, east China's Anhui Province. Yu Jiajun, the only village doctor, takes charge of health care for more than 500 villagers there and in the surrounding areas. (Photo by Chen Li/Xinhua)