A Silver Lining—A Special Rescue Operation in Shennongjia National Park

At 19:00 on November 19th, the snow on Dajiuhu had not disappeared, and temperature already dropped below zero. Inside the Dongxi Management & Conservation Center of Dajiuhu Agency of the Administration of Shennongjia National Park, an urgent phone ringing broke the quiet of twilight—an urgent report came that people were illegally building fires for heat by the roadside, creating potential risk of forest fires.

Fire is order, so staff at the center immediately took action, drove into the night with equipment, and started a careful search along the reported section of the road. At 19:40, the searchers found their target next to a remote abandoned passenger platform. A man was seen huddling by a feeble fire, in mere light clothing and slippers, shivering in the cold.

During their conversation, the man didn't reveal any clear or useful information to the staff, except an alias and that without an ID card or a working phone on him, he had decided to spend the night on the platform. This worried the staff. "Drink some hot water first to warm up." The staff immediately handed over their hot water bottle and patiently tried to persuade him to lodge in a nearby village, but with no luck.

"It's the middle of nowhere and with the night so dark, the road so slippery, you can't make it out here with those clothes." The staff insisted as the surroundings posed such a threat to the man's safety. They continued to communicate with the man by the platform in the biting wind, soothing his nerves, while quickly contacting the Dajiuhu police station to request assistance.

"In the forest area, wildfire is strictly prohibited. Once the fire goes out, the repercussions are beyond imagination, and the law also sets the liability very clear." The staff's words are both serious and considerate, "don't worry, we will help you with your trouble, but, first, come with us to a warm place, that's what matters most right now."

At 20:20, the police arrived at the scene. It was verified that the man did give a pseudonym, but no other offences were discovered. The police and the center staff worked in cooperation, continued to gently stabilize the man and tried to identify him, finally getting a hold of his relatives. Listening to the voice of his family on the other end of the phone and the encouragement from the crowd nearby, he finally gave up and agreed to assistance.

At 21:40, the man arrived safely at a nearby village, escorted by a crowd. Caring villagers came at the news and sent hot meals, warm clothes and shoes. The kindness from strangers warmed the man in a freezing night. After coordination, at 22:00, the man was safely transported to a vehicle bound for the town's welfare house. A three-hour emergency involving multiple parties finally came to a conclusion.

From the reception of the very first report, to the safe and sound rescue of a human life, the significance of this operation has way exceeded the mere rescue. It vividly captures the importance of mountain patrol in Shennongjia National Park candidate area: it is the meticulous and steadfast protection of green mountains and clear waters, as well as the tender care for the safety of people's lives and their basic needs. Nice company in the cold wind has transformed into a warmer current than a campfire, demonstrating the "people-centered" development concept in the candidate area of the Shennongjia National Park. This has made the strict ecological protection even stronger due to the profound humanistic care.（Written by Li Yu Translated by Liang Tianjing）