STORY: Mountainous town in China's Xinjiang ensures safe travel of students
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 23, 2024
DATELINE: March 16, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:24
LOCATION: YECHENG, China
CATEGORY: EDUCATION

SHOTLIST:
1. various of students being transported to school by a convoy of vehicles
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ALIMU MAMAT, Student from Yecheng County No. 15 High School
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ALIMU MAMAT, Student from Yecheng County No. 15 High School
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LYU YONGGANG, Official from Education Bureau of Yecheng County
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): WANG XIAOLIN, Traffic police officer in Yecheng County
6. various of students entering the school


STORYLINE:
Nestled in the Kunlun Mountains in China's Xinjiang, Xihxu Township is enveloped by majestic peaks and challenging roads. For years, a dedicated convoy of vehicles has been ensuring the safe passage of students here between school and home.

The convoy was carrying students free-of-charge to their boarding school in Yecheng County ahead of the spring semester, which began in February. It was led by two police vehicles and escorted by an ambulance to ensure the safety of the students.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ALIMU MAMAT, Student from Yecheng County No. 15 High School
"We get free rides to school every year on a big bus."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ALIMU MAMAT, Student from Yecheng County No. 15 High School
"All three of my kids attend school in the county seat, and the school offers free transportation. So I don't worry about their safety."

Teachers, village officials, traffic police and doctors were also part of the convoy, working together to ensure the students could travel without concern.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LYU YONGGANG, Official from Education Bureau of Yecheng County
"To enhance the education for kids in the mountainous Xihxu, and with parental approval, we offer them opportunities to attend junior high schools in the county, to receive better education. The transportation cost averages 540 yuan per student each year, funded by the local government. The transportation department selects the best vehicles and highly experienced drivers from across the county to ensure a reliable commute."

The trip from Xihxu Township to the county seat is over 120 kilometers long, navigating through snow-capped mountains with an altitude of nearly 4,000 meters.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): WANG XIAOLIN, Traffic police officer in Yecheng County
"On the route, police officers temporarily regulate the passage of large trucks to ensure the smooth transit of our bus convoy."

Thanks to these efforts, none of the 1,339 students from Xihxu dropped out of school. And many students from the remote township have been admitted into universities in various parts of China.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Yecheng, China.
(XHTV)