**The Leading Road Maintenance Team:**
**Guardians of the Sky, Home is Wherever the Road Is**
*Joint Reporting Team from the Tibet Daily and Qinghai Daily*
At the Tangula Pass, the highest point on the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, lies a region often referred to as a “death zone.” It endures extreme cold, with average annual temperatures plummeting to -8°C and winter lows reaching an alarming -40°C. The oxygen levels here are barely 40% of what you’d find at sea level, and fierce winds of up to 8 on the Beaufort scale blow for more than 120 days a year.
On the morning of August 18th, our reporting team set off from Ando County in Naqu City to the Qinghai-Tibet Highway Development and Emergency Service Center, specifically to the 109 maintenance point. Along the way, we encountered a steady stream of vehicles, and as we climbed mountains, the altitude continually increased.
The 109 maintenance point, located at an elevation of 5,231 meters on the Tangula Mountain segment, holds the title of the highest road maintenance station in the world. In August 1990, the Ministry of Communications (now the Ministry of Transport) officially dubbed it “The Leading Road Maintenance Team.”
**Staying the Course: Home is Wherever the Road Is**
When our team reached the 109 maintenance point at noon, we coincidentally met Zhiga, the work zone leader, as he and his team prepared for work on the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, patching potholes and maintaining the road surface to ensure vehicle passage.
At that moment, Zhiga’s 5-year-old son was playing nearby, unaffected by the high altitude. “He’s been living here since he was three months old, so he’s used to the environment. For him, this maintenance point is home,” Zhiga shared with us. Zhiga himself grew up in this very spot.
At 43, Zhiga has deep ties to this place, coming from a family of maintenance workers. His parents were among the original road workers of the Leading Road Maintenance Team, instilling in him a strong connection to the Qinghai-Tibet Highway.
After serving in the military from 1997 to 2009 as a vehicle operator on the highway, Zhiga took up the mantle from his parents in 2014. Alongside his wife, Laduo, who also works here, they embody the “second generation” of road maintenance workers.
The 109 maintenance team is tasked with road upkeep on both sides of the Tangula Pass for a stretch of 59 kilometers. This region, covered by permafrost, presents significant maintenance challenges due to road subsidence and safety risks.
“We only experience two seasons here: a long winter focused on snow removal, and a brief summer dedicated to pothole repairs,” Zhiga explained. The Qinghai-Tibet Highway plays a crucial role in the transport of goods into and out of Tibet, with heavy traffic daily. Though the work can be monotonous, the importance of their responsibilities is clear to everyone.
“We’re not heroes; we are just ordinary people doing ordinary work. We learn from our predecessors and commit to keeping this road safe,” Zhiga said.
**Legacy: Continuing the Struggle, Willing to Be a Stone on the Road**
The honor of the Leading Road Maintenance Team reflects the dedication of past and present workers, who are unafraid of hardship and remain resolute. The spirit of unity between the military and civilians, a hallmark of their commitment, drives their dedication despite the odds at such high altitudes.
Seventy-year-old Benqiong, from Yaoqia Village in Ando County, began her journey here at 16, becoming one of the original road workers. When we met her in Ando County, she shared her life experience with her second daughter.
“I was among the first batch of officially hired maintenance workers, and when we started, there were only three houses. Our task was to manage 10 kilometers of road with just simple tools like shovels and dustpans,” Benqiong recalled, noting that despite the tough conditions, having a steady job brought them joy.
She vividly remembers earning 36 yuan in her first month—a salary that contributed to her family’s sustenance for months. When the work unit’s leaders went to the county for meetings, she even handed over her first paycheck to buy new clothes and food for her family.
At the 109 maintenance point, Benqiong met another road worker, Angjiangmu, and together they built a family. All four of their children were born and raised here, ultimately becoming road maintenance workers themselves. After retiring in 1998 and moving to a house in the county town, Benqiong’s family remains connected to this legacy. Her second daughter, Tsering Deki, has worked as a cook in the maintenance teams and has recently taken on her role at the Leading Road Maintenance Team. Last year, Tsering Deki’s daughter, Niji, graduated from high school and passed exams to also join the work as a “third-generation” road worker.
“I used to hear my grandmother share stories about road maintenance, and while I was young, I found them entertaining. Now, getting involved in this line of work makes me appreciate their greatness and fills me with pride,” Niji stated. She noted that over the years, facilities and equipment for maintenance have greatly improved compared to what her parents and grandparents experienced.
By the end of 2021, the Leading Road Maintenance Team officially gained access to electricity, moving away from reliance on kerosene lamps, generators, and solar power. From a few tents to newly constructed brick houses for both living and working, while the infrastructure has evolved, the spirit and dedication instilled in generations of road workers remain unchanged.
**Warmth: Humanitarian Aid and Genuine Care**
Tangula Mountain is known as a peak “even eagles cannot soar over.” For years, the 109 maintenance point has served as an essential “supply station” for travelers.
At this maintenance point, it’s common for drivers crossing the Tangula Pass to seek help from the team due to severe altitude sickness or other challenges. Located flanking the entrance are a service area and a rescue station. The rescue station features two rooms with eight beds, complemented by heaters, medical supplies, oxygen tanks, and mementos from grateful travelers adorning the walls.
On one occasion in August, Zhiga received a letter of gratitude from an individual traveling from Zhengzhou, Henan. The motorcyclist, who had experienced difficult conditions while traversing from Tangula Mountain to Geermu, lost control of their bike and fell into a ravine. Zhiga and his team discovered the scene during their patrol and provided timely assistance. The letter concluded with heartfelt words: “Thank you; you gave me a second chance at life.”
Each year, they assist over a hundred individuals, and countless warm stories emerge from this place.
Eighty-three-year-old Bucha, who began working at the 109 maintenance point in 1962, shares how he learned to speak Mandarin there despite never attending school. “When I started, there were several minority workers. We lived and worked together, and they taught me Mandarin and essential skills,” he reminisced.
Forty-three-year-old Bugga stands as a “second-generation” worker. Growing up amidst road maintenance, his fondest memories are of delicious canned goods. “As kids, we used to wait alongside the road hoping military trucks would pass. They’d toss us biscuits and canned food; those were our happiest childhood memories.”
For seventy years, generations of road workers have continued the mission of protecting the sky roads. To them, the spirit of service is akin to the gentle words of their forebears, a lifetime dedication to keeping the roads open.
*Reporter’s Note*
**Guardians of the “Sky Road”**
*Zhang Duojun*
At an altitude of 5,231 meters, the Tangula Pass is a “death zone,” yet it is not a limit for our road maintenance workers. As I stepped into the “Leading Road Maintenance Team,” I felt the effects of altitude sickness; each step seemed to drain my energy. We are but fleeting visitors, while the workers who remain here endure year after year, sometimes even passing this duty to their children and grandchildren. It is their admirable dedication, braving harsh weather and guarding the peaks, that maintains the integrity of the “Sky Road.” With tireless resolve, they forge the “Leading Road Maintenance Team” into a symbol of the enduring spirit of service, resilience, and solidarity.
