Now, thanks to technologies such as drones, infrared cameras, and video surveillance, areas that once required days of hiking or horseback riding to access are monitored round the clock.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of several generations of forest patrolmen, there hasn't been a major forest fire in the area for 60 years. Besides, the health of the Qilian Mountains has improved significantly after years of restoration and protection, with more grass, taller trees, and more frequent sightings of wildlife. Local herders have also transitioned to patrolmen, learning to write and fill out patrol logs under Ma's guidance.

However, Ma also experienced deep sorrow during his career. In 2008, while on patrol in the mountains where there was no signal, a message was relayed to him through a herder that there was an emergency at home. "At that time, there was no vehicle to take me down the mountain, so I ran. It wasn't until I reached the foot of the mountain that I was able to catch a passing vehicle to the hospital in Zhangye city. My family told me my wife had been diagnosed with lung cancer. I was so overwhelmed that I couldn't even stand."

Nine months later, his wife passed away, leaving behind a daughter not yet 5 years old. Her only wish was for Ma to take good care of their daughter. "That event hit me very hard," Ma said, with a slight catch in his throat. Ma didn't disclose how he coped with his grief, but he persevered in the mountainous area.

"After spending a few days in the city, I always feel something is missing. I've become unaccustomed to the hustle and bustle of city life. I feel at peace only when I return to the mountains," he said.

Ma's daughter is about to transfer to Gansu Agricultural University this September to study landscape architecture. He's happy that she has chosen a path influenced by his own.

Contact the writers at xunuo@chinadaily.com.cn