Couple devoted to guarding cultural relics

Elderly husband and wife team ensures protection of fire beacon towers that played vital role in safeguarding Silk Road

Traveling along the highways that traverse Hami prefecture in the eastern part of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, one cannot miss the sight of tower-like mud mounds rising from the vast and desolate plains.

They are ancient fire beacon towers that date back to as early as the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

In ancient times, they formed a crucial part of the military defense system and played a vital role in safeguarding the Silk Road, ensuring its smooth operation and serving as a testament to the governance and jurisdiction of Xinjiang by the central government.