High on the Pamir Plateau – where snow-capped peaks kiss the sky – the Tajik ethnic group has safeguarded China's western frontiers for centuries. Meet Longjike Kadeer's family: four generations of border patrollers who've walked every ridge and valley here since the 1950s. 🥾🗺️
From Horses to High-Tech
While their ancestors rode horses through rugged terrain, today's guardians use drones and satellite phones. 'My grandfather’s compass is now my smartphone,' laughs 28-year-old Mardan, the family’s youngest patroller. Yet some traditions endure: they still leave stone markers at strategic points, a practice dating back 70 years. 🪨➡️📱
Witnesses to Change
The Kadeers have watched roads replace mountain trails and schools rise where tents once stood. 'We’re not just guarding land,' says Longjike. 'We’re preserving a connection between our heritage and China’s bright future.' Their story mirrors the plateau’s transformation – where ancient customs meet 5G networks and eco-tourism. 🌐🏔️
