In 2012, my colleague Attorney Zhao Yan signed up for China’s “1+1” Legal Aid Volunteer Program. After selection, she became the first practicing lawyer from Liaocheng to provide legal aid in western China. While I sincerely congratulate Attorney Zhao on realizing her life dream in the west, my memories drift back to Qinghai. Time flies like a fleeting steed. Four years have passed since I joined the China University Students’ Legal Aid Volunteer Program in Qinghai, yet the joys and sorrows of that year remain deeply etched in my heart—a precious memory I will cherish for a lifetime.

I. A Dream for the West

In April 2007, my college life at Shandong University of Business and Technology was drawing to a close. It was then that the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League held a national tour report on western aid volunteer work at our university. Listening to the volunteers’ accounts of their work in western China, I was profoundly moved. The simplicity of the local people, the harsh natural environment, and the sense of accomplishment and honor the volunteers gained deeply inspired me. I resolved to go to the western borderlands, contribute to the country, and do my humble part for the people there. After making this decision, I shared my wish with my family. Though they had concerns, they encouraged me to pursue my life’s purpose and fulfill my dream in the west.

II. Expectation vs. Reality

After applying and passing assessments, physical examinations, and selection by the university’s Communist Youth League committee, I became one of the western aid volunteers. I was overjoyed when I learned I had been selected—I could not sleep for days. The news spread quickly across campus, causing a stir among my classmates. They congratulated me but also reminded me to prepare for the hardships ahead. As my initial excitement faded, I too wondered: what was the west really like? Was it as portrayed on TV—no roads, no clean water, no public transport, and scarce supplies?

At that time, Secretary Li of the university’s Communist Youth League met with me. He shared feedback from previous volunteers at our university: most assignments were in remote towns in western China, with no settlements for dozens of kilometers outside the townships, small populations, limited goods, and travel of tens of kilometers to larger towns for shopping. Food in local shops mostly consisted of expired instant noodles. While these hardships were manageable, the greatest challenge was communication. Most residents were ethnic minorities; though honest and kind, language barriers made interaction difficult. Volunteers spent their free time staring at the stars. One former volunteer returned with gray hair after a year of hardship but persisted, integrated into local life, and completed the mission successfully. Secretary Li also mentioned that volunteers from other universities had secretly quit halfway due to the harsh conditions, damaging the reputation of all participating institutions. He said this was my final chance to reconsider: if I felt I could not overcome the difficulties, I could withdraw.

As Secretary Li described the challenges, I wavered briefly. But thinking of my dream, the perseverance of past volunteers, and the recognition of society, I regained my resolve. I told Secretary Li I feared nothing, would fulfill my role in the west, make the year meaningful, and never bring shame to the university.

III. Embarking on the Journey

Soon, I was assigned to the Justice Bureau of Golmud, Qinghai, to work in legal aid. I was delighted that the role aligned with my major.

My dear roommates, upon learning I was sent to Golmud—a place we had never heard of—spent hours researching its geography and culture online. I was deeply touched. Golmud is a county-level city in Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, with an altitude of 2,800 meters. It is known as a key transit hub on the road to Tibet, where travelers from inland China rest to acclimate to the plateau. This was all I knew about Golmud.

Days passed as I dreamed of the west. On the afternoon of July 16, 2007, leaders from the Shandong Provincial Communist Youth League bid farewell to us—350 legal aid volunteers bound for Qinghai. They assured us of full support if we faced insurmountable difficulties. On departure day, Jinan Railway Station was crowded with teachers, classmates, and leaders at all levels. Amid warm wishes and high expectations, I boarded the westbound train with my dream, ready to honor the volunteer oath.

After more than 20 hours, we arrived in Lanzhou, the first stop in western China, where leaders from the Gansu Provincial Communist Youth League welcomed us. The next day, the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League and the Ministry of Justice provided five days of pre-service training on legal aid policies and practices. Following training, a grand departure ceremony was held for all western volunteers.

On July 21, Director Liu Qigui and Deputy Director Dong Ke of the Qinghai Legal Aid Center came to pick up volunteers assigned to Qinghai, introducing local customs along the way. In Xining, we met with leaders from the Qinghai Provincial Communist Youth League and Department of Justice, who led us in an oath-taking ceremony. In that moment, I reaffirmed my resolve to start from grassroots work and realize my life’s value through volunteer service. Director Heng Qinben and Section Chief Ba Xuguang of the Haixi Prefecture Justice Bureau came to collect four of us volunteers. Before our departure, Qinghai justice leaders repeatedly asked the prefecture bureau to care for us.

En route to Delingha, Haixi Prefecture, Section Chief Ba introduced local customs and advised us to acclimate slowly: avoid strenuous exercise initially and adjust gradually to the plateau. The car sped past stunning landscapes, making us lose track of time. After four hours, we reached the Rubber Mountain Pass (3,817 meters), the gateway to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Section Chief Ba asked us to take photos to mark the milestone.

Around 8 p.m., we arrived in Delingha, Haixi Prefecture, during the opening ceremony of the Qaidam Cultural and Art Festival. Section Chief Ba took us to enjoy the performances, letting us experience ethnic culture and the unique charm of the Qaidam Basin. The next day, prefecture bureau leaders hosted a welcome dinner, where we felt the warmth of the Qinghai people. Refreshing barley wine and white hadas dispelled our initial unease. Leaders warmly welcomed and thanked us, urging us to start work promptly to ease local legal aid shortages.

IV. Volunteer Work

Due to arrangements at the Golmud Justice Bureau, Wei Haiyan (from Zibo) and I were assigned to the Haixi Prefecture Justice Bureau. I worked in the Legal Aid Section, and Wei in the Grassroots Work Section.

Haixi Prefecture, meaning “west of Qinghai Lake,” administers two county-level cities (Golmud and Delingha), three counties (Wulan, Dulan, Tianjun), and three administrative committees (Lenghu, Da Qaidam, Mangya). Delingha, the capital of Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, means “Golden World” in Mongolian. Section Chief Ba noted that Delingha’s environment was harsh: dry, sparse rainfall, vast and sparsely populated, with endless barren Gobi desert. Remarkably, it rained twice shortly after our arrival. Director Heng joked that we brought rain clouds to Delingha.

Despite prior expectations, reality posed great challenges. Yet fellow volunteers resolved to persevere—hardship would only fuel our determination to achieve our dreams and prove our worth.

Most colleagues at the Haixi Justice Bureau were Tibetan, Mongolian, or Hui, creating language barriers. With their help, I practiced daily and, after a month, could understand and communicate fluently in the local dialect.

Extreme temperature swings and intense ultraviolet radiation marked daily life. In my first month, I suffered daily nosebleeds and sore throats from the dry climate. Colleagues advised placing water basins in the bedroom to humidify the air. After a month, I adapted.

Local cuisine centered on meat and noodles (especially 面片). Director Heng and Section Chief Ba often said inlanders adapted best by eating more meat and drinking more alcohol to build energy—Haixi’s yak and lamb were famous. To accommodate us, the bureau set up a small kitchen. On my first day, I could not even cook noodles properly. Colleagues explained that high altitude required pressure cookers—an essential lesson. Remote location and poor logistics made daily goods expensive, even pricier than in Shandong.

Winters were bitterly cold; no refrigerators were needed in autumn. Meat froze instantly if cut slowly. The harsh cold was unforgettable.

Young and healthy, I initially felt no ill effects. But altitude sickness hit once work began. The Legal Aid Section was on the third floor; climbing it left me breathless—unlike in Shandong, where I easily climbed eight floors. Colleagues advised resting on each floor. After a month, the symptoms subsided.

Intense ultraviolet radiation burned my face despite wearing hats, causing peeling three times. Qinghai truly felt “closest to the sun.”

In my legal aid role, I actively collaborated with local trade unions, youth leagues, women’s federations, disabled persons’ federations, and senior citizens’ committees to promote legal aid, establish liaison stations, and build a comprehensive service network. Accompanying prefecture leaders on grassroots inspections, I summarized experiences, strengths, and gaps in local legal aid, submitting actionable reports. With colleagues, I mediated disputes in pastoral areas.

Our efforts made Haixi’s legal aid program thriving. As public awareness grew, a dedicated reception hall was established. I created informational materials and promotional boards to guide clients through procedures.

In September 2007, a Hunan woman sought legal aid. Her husband died in a car accident while traveling to Tibet via Golmud. Stranded and unable to communicate, she was referred to us by a local resident educated in law. I completed her application promptly and requested to handle her case. Section Chief Ba noted Golmud was 300 kilometers away (a 7-hour trip each way) and suggested assigning local counsel. I coordinated with Golmud’s law firm, arranged representation, and escorted her to the bus. After her case concluded, she traveled from Hunan to present a silk banner of thanks.

Legal awareness was low among local herders. The bureau conducted weekly rural outreach. Though assigned to legal aid, I volunteered for publicity work. Wei Haiyan and I proposed interactive activities (quizzes, prize contests) to engage communities. In urban areas, we traveled by car; in remote pastoral or temple areas, colleagues rode motorcycles for hours. Endless vastness and sparse population defined the landscape. Local Buddhists held lamas in high regard. The director personally led temple outreach. Lamas thanked us and wished us well.

During outreach, I conducted research on legal needs, informing the bureau’s strategy. Leaders praised my proactive approach.

On holidays, Wei and I volunteered for duty, answering the 12348 hotline. We responded to over 100 inquiries, documented cases, drafted legal documents, assigned counsel, and prepared over 120 reports and official documents.

V. Achievements

During my one-year volunteer service in Haixi, I advanced legal aid through diverse outreach, expanding and developing local services.

Deputy Director Wang Junyi of the Ministry of Justice’s Legal Aid Center fully recognized and praised my work and innovations. Upon completion, I received the China Youth Volunteer Service Bronze Medal and Certificate from the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League. While these honors were milestones, the sincere gratitude and trust of those I assisted remain my most cherished reward—the highest recognition of my volunteer journey.

VI. Farewell

Goodbyes are always poignant. Due to circumstances, I could not extend my service and returned to Liaocheng after one year. The bureau hosted a grand farewell dinner. Leaders commended our contributions to ethnic unity and western development, setting an example for college students of our era. Toasts, heartfelt speeches, and deep friendships marked the occasion. We had fallen in love with this vast land and its people. At the station, colleagues gathered to see us off—toasts of departure wine and hadas brought tears to our eyes. As Ai Qing wrote: “Why do my eyes always fill with tears? Because I love this land deeply.”

VII. Reflection

My one-year western journey was transformative. I realized my life’s purpose while providing meaningful legal aid. I deeply understood the Party’s mission to serve the people through grassroots work. I endured unprecedented hardships, gaining invaluable experience unattainable in cities. The west’s winds weathered my skin, the plateau sun darkened my face—but adversity forged my resolve and elevated my spirit. This experience is my lifelong treasure.

Driven by my passion for law, I joined Shandong Luheng Law Firm upon returning to Liaocheng and became a licensed attorney. Though years have passed, the west remains in my heart. Wherever I go, the mission to serve the people guides me. I strive to uphold my calling as a legal professional and contribute to China’s rule of law.