Wen family devoted to mail service in Baotou's border area

In the scorching heat of the July summer, an off-road vehicle packed with mail heads out from the Baiyanhua Post Office to the depths of the grassland in the region administered by Baotou city, in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Driving along winding provincial roads, vehicles and pedestrians are rarely to be seen, with only the constant sound of gravel being kicked up by the wind and hitting the car's chassis ringing in the ears. This is the route that has been traveled by mail carrier Wen Jinmao for the past 38 years – day in and day out, year after year.

The vehicle finally arrives at the home of Erdenqigge, a mom and herder from a village that borders China's neighbor Mongolia, who warmly invites Wen inside to sit down.

Opening the package, they find electric appliance parts sent home by her son who is working far away, which brings her great joy.

"Normally, the courier service only delivers to the express storage site in the village, but since it's 35 kilometers away from my home and my husband has mobility issues, brother Wen helped deliver it to our home,"  Erdenqigge said.

Wen (right) delivers the express to Erdenqigge's husband. [Photo/Baotou Evening News]

Such tasks have become routine for Wen, 54, the sole rural postal deliveryman within a radius of hundreds of km. He operates from Baiyanhua Post Office, part of the Darhan Muminggan Joint Banner Postal Branch, covering Baiyanhua town and its surrounding areas.

Bordering the district of Khatanbulag, in Dornogovi Province in Mongolia to the north, the surrounding areas span 3,143 square kilometers with a border length of 35.6 km. Its sparse population and rugged roads characterize the region. Wen and his wife, Taugtmule, handle the general service operations of Baiyanhua Post Office. While Wen delivers the mail, his wife remains in the office on duty, effectively managing a border post.

Wen and his wife Taugtmule sort through mails and deliveries.  [Photo/Baotou Evening News]

Wen's father was the previous postal carrier and in 1986, he took over the job from his dad. Over the decades, the father and son have witnessed the development of the area. From dirt roads in the beginning to today's asphalt roads, local transportation has become more convenient, with upgraded modes of travel.

Initially, Wen's father delivered mail on camelback, later switching to a postal bicycle. When Wen started, motorcycles were already being used. Several years ago, to improve things, Wen bought a four-wheel drive off-road vehicle. Now, in a day, Wen drives over 500 km on average delivering mail back and forth.

"In recent years, the living conditions of local farmers and herdsmen have improved. They now buy seafood, vegetables and even washing machines and refrigerators online," Wen said. As a postal carrier, he says he's witnessed the power of rural revitalization.

For over 38 years, Wen has handled various types of mail and periodicals with a delivery accuracy rate of 100 percent – never making any misdeliveries or omissions, causing any delays or backlogs, nor receiving any complaints from customers.

Wen says he has one wish – to complete a century of postal service shared between father and son. Currently, there are more than 10 years left to achieve this goal.

Under the blazing sun on the grassland, Wen drives towards the next rendezvous point, where herders await his arrival.

Wen drives alone on the grassland, delivering to farmers and herdsmen in remote areas. [Photo/Baotou Evening News]