Memorial ceremonies were held in southwest China's Yunnan Province during the Qingming Festival, which runs from April 4 to 6, to honor fallen anti-drug officers and their sacrifices on the frontlines of cross-border trafficking.
Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, which falls on Sunday this year, is a time for Chinese people to mourn the deceased and pay tribute to ancestors, as well as to honor those who sacrificed their lives for the country.
One such ceremony was held in Jiangcheng County of Pu'er City in Yunnan, bordering Laos and Vietnam, in memory of Yang Jungang, an anti-drug officer who was fatally shot while pursuing traffickers on March 7, 2016.
A fellow officer recalled Yang's final moments, saying he continued chasing the suspect even after being shot.
"Even after he was shot, he chased the perpetrator for more than 10 meters before collapsing. His last words were: Did we catch them?" said Shang Zhijun, a police officer with the Pu'er Border Management Detachment.
During his nearly 20-year career, Yang handled more than 150 drug-related cases and helped seize over 500 kilograms of narcotics.
Among those attending the ceremony this year was Yang's 15-year-old son, who visited the site for the first time, carrying a letter addressed to his father.
"I haven't seen my father for a long time, and I feel a deep sense of grief. He worked under such harsh conditions. To me, he is someone truly worthy of respect," he said.
Yang's story underscores the risks faced by anti-drug officers along China's southwestern border. Official data show that 191 officers have lost their lives along Yunnan's 4,060-kilometer frontier over the last few decades.
Similar memorial activities were also held in other border areas, including Baoshan, which borders Myanmar.
"A good life is something we owe to countless unsung heroes who strive and struggle in places unseen. That's why my daughter told me she felt truly inspired," Shang said.
Chinese Yunnan border towns honor fallen anti-drug heroes during Qingming Festival
