It has been more than four decades since Xiangxiu and Yangchen passed the tests and interviews to begin working at Qinghai People's Radio Station, which combined with Qinghai Television Station in 2011 to form Qinghai Radio and Television Station (known as QHRTV), in Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province. Now, they live in a house with a courtyard, which is filled with various flowers and plants. They are content, and they enjoy their happy family life, which they say is "blooming like a beautiful flower." They often tell their children they should never forget where their family has taken root, no matter how far away they roam.Salute to New Era

Xiangxiu and Yangchen's hometown is a village in Jainca, a county in Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in Qinghai Province. The village is near Cambra National Forest Park. 

"Our village is located by the Yellow River. The climate here is suitable for growing flowers," says Yangchen, as she waters the flowers and plants growing in her courtyard. Yangchen hopes the younger generations of her family will respect nature, and will adhere to the family's tradition of "working diligently, living a thrifty life, and being kind to others." 

Says Xiangxiu: "We have passed moral virtues within our extended family, from generation to generation. We have taught our offspring what we have learned from the older generations of our family. For example, we have taught our children to respect seniors and love the young, and to stay united and provide help and support to each other. In particular, we have emphasized the importance of showing one's gratitude and humility. We have also urged our children to give back to society, by spreading kindheartedness." 

In Xiangxiu's opinion, the happiness of each family is based on the progress of society. Each family shoulders social responsibilities. "If a family leads a harmonious and happy life, that's the way the family salutes our great new era," Xiangxiu says. 

Broadening Children's Horizons During the past four decades, Xiangxiu has completed numerous tasks — including dubbing programs, which have outlined policies issued under the guidance of the Communist Party of China. He has also dubbed programs that have promoted the fine traditional culture of Tibetans. Yangchen and her husband have worked hard to help local residents better understand the programs broadcast via the radio and television station in Qinghai. Yangchen was involved in the station's initiative to launch a Tibetan-language program, "Children's Land." The program provides children, living in ethnic Tibetan regions, with scientific and systematic early childhood education. Yangchen has participated in the recording of the program's courses, which have 260 episodes. 

"Children's Land is important for children's growth. With the help of this program, children in my hometown can learn science-related information from a fairly early age. The program acts like a bridge, which connects ethnic Tibetan children with the broader world. My colleagues and I, who have worked on this program, hope we will help educate the younger generations, so they will know both contemporary knowledge and traditional folk culture," Yangchen says. 

Yangchen has had many remarkable experiences while working on Children's Land. "Once, I did an interview with a Tibetan girl, from a pasturing area. She said she had learned some basic sanitation knowledge by listening to our program. Another experience was with a father, who traveled to our station to express his gratitude. The father said his children had learned about sanitation and environmental protection," Yangchen says. 

Such feedback has caused Yangchen to believe working in the media has given her the power — and responsibility — to advance social progress.

Eco-Friendly HometownXiangxiu and Yangchen in 2015 established an environmental-protection association in Jainca County. They have since organized the villagers to remove garbage along the banks of the Yellow River. Given Xiangxiu and Yangchen's persistent efforts, during the past decade, the villagers have improved their awareness of protecting the ecological environment of their hometown, especially along the Yellow River.

Due in part to their efforts, Xiangxiu and Yangchen's hometown has been transformed into a nice, neat village, which sits near the Yellow River, with clear water and clean banks. In recent years, an increasing number of tourists have visited the village on their way to Cambra National Forest Park. Xiangxiu and Yangchen have encouraged the villagers to open farm stays, so they can supplement their incomes by providing catering and/or accommodations to the tourists. 

Xiangxiu says environmental protection has become a social responsibility shouldered by his family. He and Yangchen often lead their children and grandchildren in various public-welfare activities organized in their hometown. Last summer, the family worked with residents to plant more than 100 trees around their village. "At first, our children simply handed out farm tools to the villagers. Soon, they volunteered to plant trees. I was touched by their strong will to take part in environmental protection," Xiangxiu recalls. 

Adds Yangchen: "During a training session on garbage sorting organized in our village, my granddaughter helped pick up plastic bags and bottles dropped in the village. She later said to me, 'Grandma, let's use fewer plastic bags at home.' I could feel she obtained a better understanding of the importance of environmental protection." 

Both Xiangxiu and Yangchen believe each family is closely connected with the progress of society. A family aware of the importance of shouldering its social responsibilities will spread positive energy, which contributes to the advancement of society. Xiangxiu and Yangchen are always happy to see their family members are warmly united when they participate in public-welfare activities, and especially while demonstrating the family's contributions to the building of a harmonious and eco-friendly hometown.

Photos from Interviewees

(Women of China English Monthly February 2025)

Editor: Wang Shasha