New species

The garrison members have lost count of exactly how many trees they have planted on the island. They only know that they plant them every month, when a supply ship arrives with daily necessities and more seeds.

Although botanical research institutes have introduced more than 100 plant species that can adapt to the tropical climate, only two types have really thrived.

To make the sandy land more suitable for plants, every sailor and officer has brought bags of fertile soil from their hometown when returning from leave, and they constantly introduce new species from places they visit in the hope they will grow.

For example, horsetail pines were introduced from Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, by one of the garrison's former commanders, while the sea purslane that covers the beach was brought from another island by Zhang and Wang Fengmin, his first drill instructor.

After countless failures, the sailors' efforts may appear fruitless, but they maintain their ambition to make Zhongjian Island their second home and safeguard national sovereignty.

As Qiu put it, "I'm not bragging, but Xisha is my home now, and my old home has become a land in the distance."