Forging an Eminent Life on the National Stage and in the Depths of the Green Mountains

Promoting the Exemplary and Commending Role Models: Since 2023, this official WeChat account has been showcasing the annual outstanding units and individuals of the Administration of Shennongjia National Park through a series of reports. We hope the commended units and individuals will guard against arrogance and rashness, continue to exert themselves, and make new contributions. We should learn from their meticulous and conscientious work ethic, their spirit of diligently studying their profession and striving for first-class achievements, and their quality of perseverance and steadfast loyalty. They are like a banner and a measuring tape, giving us direction to learn and goals to compare ourselves to. Let us take these exemplars as our role models, unite as one, transform our work style, strive with determination, and achieve even better results.

Forging an Eminent Life on the National Stage and in the Depths of the Green Mountains

— In Commemoration of Chen Yong, Second Prize Winner of the Second National Forestry and Grassland Industry Forest and Grassland Firefighter Vocational Skills Competition

At half past five in the morning, milky-white mist still flowed between the mountain ranges of Shennongjia. Chen Yong, a ranger in the candidate area of Shennongjia National Park, deftly packed his binoculars, PDA, patrol log, and first aid kit into his backpack. When his fingertips touched the pair of binoculars, his movements were particularly gentle—the black leather case was covered with crisscrossing scratches, the paint was peeling and mottled, a few spots on the lens barrels were worn shiny black by sweat, yet the lenses remained as clear as ever, wiped spotlessly clean by him.

He raised the binoculars, and the outlines of the mountains gradually sharpened in his view. This action reminded him of that morning six years ago when the old station chief solemnly placed these binoculars into his hands: "Chen, what you see through these isn’t just the trees, but responsibility. Now these ‘eyes’ are entrusted to you; you must continue to watch over this mountain."

Today, through these ‘eyes’ tempered by time, Chen Yong sees more than just the layered peaks. Within that clear field of view is reflected every step of his journey from the “assembly line” to the “lifeline,” mirroring how an ordinary rural youth found his mission within these green mountains.

From the “Assembly Line” to the “Lifeline”

Chen Yong’s story began with an era-driven migration and culminated in a conscious decision to return.

In the summer of 2000, due to the relocation for the Pingqian Reservoir project, Chen Yong moved with his parents to Bajiaomiao Village, Songbai Town. Two meager acres of farmland and a family of three took root once again in this unfamiliar land. This experience of leaving his native place gave the word 'home' a special weight in his heart.

Upon reaching adulthood, he ventured out for work like many rural youths. On the assembly line at BYD in Guangdong, he assembled 387 lithium batteries every day. He remembers that number clearly to this day because every battery was the same, every day was the same.

What bothered him most was walking out of the workshop after the night shift and seeing the endless stream of car lights in the city. “So many lights, not a single one was lit for me,” he said.

In the sterile laboratory of a Beijing biotech company, he had to wear a thick protective suit, even his breath filtered. He missed the wind in the mountains of Shennongjia, carrying the scent of earth and plants, intensely.

In 2012, after years of drifting, Chen Yong made the most important decision of his life—to return to the embrace of the mountains that raised him. He resolutely left the standardized, procedural “assembly line” and returned to the “lifeline”—wild, yet brimming with boundless vitality. When he stepped back into the long-unseen forest, his feet on the soft fallen leaves, hearing the familiar bird songs, he knew he could never leave again.

From “Layman” to “Living Map”

Although he was raised up in the mountains, when it came to professional forestry work, Chen Yong was initially a “layman”. “I knew nothing about the specifics—when to prevent pests, which trees are prone to fire, all those intricacies.”

But he had the persistence of a mountain man. During the day, he followed veteran rangers over hill and dale, learning to identify the direction, observe fire risks; at night, he pored over thick forestry books under the lamp. As time passed, he not only learned the names of all the plants he knew and didn’t know from childhood but also understood their temperaments. “He knows which slope has the most vibrant azaleas, and also which gully’s fir trees are most afraid of spring drought,” his colleague Chen Ping remarked of him.

Six years passed, and Chen Yong had long since become one with this mountain. He knew its every breath—how the spring azaleas gradually painted the slopes red, in which grove the summer cicadas were loudest, how the autumn leaves piled layer upon layer, and the serene pulse of the entire mountain under the winter snow.

This deep understanding once saved his life in Baligou. That day, he came face to face with a nearly 200kg male bear. The bear’s heavy panting was right by his ear; he could even see the mud and dead leaves stuck to its claws. He instinctively gripped his machete tighter but remembered the old ranger’s words: “Bears don't spontaneously mess with people, so don’t you provoke it.”

He slowly retreated. Professional instinct made him want to record data, but fear made his fingers stiff. It wasn't until the bear turned and disappeared into the dense forest that he noticed his palms were sweaty, the wooden handle of the machete warm from his grip. “In the mountains, respect is more important than bravery.” This experience gave him a deeper understanding of those words.

From Ordinary Member to Industry Benchmark

If daily patrols were Chen Yong's “routine battles,” then the National Forestry and Grassland Vocational Skills Competition was his “grand review.” This stage, known as the ‘Olympics’ of the forestry and grassland world, pushed these unsung guardians into the spotlight of the times.

In July 2023, Chen Yong was selected to represent the Hubei forestry system in the first National Forestry and Grassland Industry Forest Firefighter Vocational Skills Competition. From precise chainsaw cutting to skilled operation of GPS navigation equipment, from UAV aerial patrols to coordinated water pump relay tactics, from solid theoretical knowledge to demanding physical tests, the competition comprehensively tested the participants' overall capabilities. Chen Yong took part in almost all events, demonstrating versatile all-around ability.

At the training base in Huangmei County, under temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius, the metal casing of the wind fire extinguisher was hot enough to fry an egg. The fireproof clothing dried only to be soaked again, crusted with white salt stains. The most harrowing moment came one afternoon when a piece of wood chip, blown up by the high-speed wind fire extinguisher, instantly lodged in his right eye. The sharp pain nearly made him pass out, but he gritted his teeth and completed all the training tasks for that afternoon.

“I couldn't let the whole team's progress fall behind because of me.”

It was only after training ended, urged by his teammates, that he went to the hospital. The doctor immediately scheduled surgery, warning him that had he arrived any later, he might have lost his sight.

“Were you scared?” the doctor asked.

He did not speak for a while. “Yes. But not of going blind. I was scared I might not be able to patrol the mountains anymore.”

While preparing for the second competition in 2025, missing home became his toughest trial. Not returning to Shennongjia for over fifty days—this was the longest he’d been away since becoming a father. During one video call, his wife, seeing his darkened, thinned face, was overcome with heartache, and couldn't help complaining a bit. Just then, their daughter’s little face squeezed into the frame, her small hand covering her mother's mouth: “Don’t talk about my dad like that! My dad is a hero!” This hardened man, who hadn't shed a tear even when injured during training, felt his eyes instantly moisten. This child's defense became the warmest armor as he battled on the competition field.

Perseverance paid off. Chen Yong became the first person from Hubei Province to compete in two consecutive competitions. In 2023, he won the National Individual Third Prize and the Provincial Individual First Prize. In 2024, he took first place in the “Mobilizing Elite Troops - 2024 (Shiyan) and the Third Military Training Competition.” In 2025, he achieved another outstanding result, winning the National Individual Second Prize. Chen Yong proved with his achievements that the new-era ranger is far from the simple image of “patrolling mountains and watching trees,” but rather a highly skilled professional mastering GPS navigation, UAV patrols, and modern firefighting equipment—a “mountain and forest expert” combining rich practical experience with solid theoretical knowledge.

From “One Tree” to “Other Trees”

Today, Chen Yong has become the 'Master Chen' to the younger rangers, shouldering more important responsibilities—not only completing basic tasks like daily patrols and forest fire prevention but also managing firefighting equipment, training new team members, and serving as a core member of the emergency response team, ready to tackle various unexpected situations at any time. “It takes decades for a tree to grow from a sapling to maturity, but a single mountain fire can destroy an entire forest.” Based on this profound understanding of responsibility, he maintains high vigilance in his work. Feng Jing, a newly arrived conservation officer, said, “He doesn't just teach us the names of trees. He tells you whether a tree likes sun or shade, fears drought, or is prone to pests. In his eyes, every tree has its own temperament. With him here, we feel especially secure.”

As night fell, lights lit up one by one at the Pingqian Management & Conservation Center. Chen Yong carefully organized the day's patrol records, neatly arranged the equipment for the next day, and then habitually walked to the window.

Outside, the moonlight was like water, quietly spilling over the slumbering mountains and forests.

A new day, new patrols, new stories—they continue to unfold amid these green mountains and clear waters. And for Chen Yong, all this is not just about perseverance; it is also about returning home—to the place where his life first began.