STORY: Faces of China: A village doctor's 25-year commitment to community care
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: Feb. 5, 2025
LENGTH: 00:02:05
LOCATION: TAIYUAN, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of He Xinglong
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): HE XINGLONG, Village doctor in Shanxi Province
3. various of He Xinglong
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): HE XINGLONG, Village doctor in Shanxi Province
5. various of He Xinglong
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): HE XINGLONG, Village doctor in Shanxi Province
7. various of He Xinglong
8. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): HE XINGLONG, Village doctor in Shanxi Province
9. various of He Xinglong and his wife Chen Cuiping
10. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): CHEN CUIPING, He Xinglong's wife
11. SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): Villager
12. SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): HE XINGLONG, Village doctor in Shanxi Province

STORYLINE:

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): HE XINGLONG, Village doctor in Shanxi Province
"I think for a doctor, it doesn't matter where you work. The most important thing is to go where doctors are most needed."

He Xinglong is a doctor in Letang Village in Linfen City, north China's Shanxi Province. Since graduating from medical school in 2000, he has dedicated himself to safeguarding the health of over 4,600 local villagers.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): HE XINGLONG, Village doctor in Shanxi Province
"In this area, with around 20 villages, there's a need for a general practitioner. At least, as long as I'm here, if anyone gets sick, I can treat them, and they won't have to go to the county seat."

Over the past 25 years, he has honored his commitment to provide "24/7 home visits."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): HE XINGLONG, Village doctor in Shanxi Province
"When I graduated from the medical school in 2000 and came back, the first clinic I set up was in that cave house on the west side. 
Back then, I used to make home visits on foot. Later, I switched to riding a bicycle, and then to riding a motorcycle."

Over the years, he's worn out seven motorcycles and over a dozen medical bags. For remote paths inaccessible even by bike, he resorted to a shoulder pole to carry supplies.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): HE XINGLONG, Village doctor in Shanxi Province
"This bag, with just the medicine and liquid bottles, weighs 15 to 20 kg.
I've truly developed a bond with them. When I was young, I was admitted to medical school, but I couldn't afford the tuition. It was the people from the village who raised the money and lent me the funds for attending the school. I feel that they can't do without me, and I feel the same way -- I can't do without them."

His wife, Chen Cuiping, has stood steadfastly by his side.

SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): CHEN CUIPING, He Xinglong's wife
"We've stayed in the village for these past decades. There have been joys and sorrows. But in our hearts, we feel content. As long as they're happy, we're happy."

SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): Villager
"He is a good doctor."

SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): HE XINGLONG, Village doctor in Shanxi Province
"As long as there are people in the village who need me, I will continue to do this. I'll keep working here and won't go anywhere else."

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