Old Barag Banner is located in the heart of Hulun Buir Grassland, in Hulun Buir, a city in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
There is a special team of police on the grassland — the Haidongqing Mounted Police Team. They wear uniforms with patterns of Haidongqing (also known as spear falcon), and they ride sturdy horses.
Wang Xueyao is one of the officers. She joined the banner's special police unit in 2016, and eventually became a member of the mounted police. Her horse is Feixue (literally meaning flying snow).
Why are mounted police needed on the grassland? "In the border area of the banner, there are many mountains, rivers and swamps, making vehicle travel difficult. For example, in case of an emergency, driving might take an hour, but crossing the river on horseback takes only 10 minutes," Wang explains.
The locals have developed a tacit understanding: "If you need help, just contact Haidongqing." Virtually every resident has the contact number for the mounted police. "People turn to us when they have problems, and we are able to help them. That is the greatest value of our work," Wang says.
The women's federation of Old Barag Banner established a "mobile women's home" at Haidongqing Police Station. As a team member, and as a communicator on behalf of the local women's federation, Wang has always made serving women and children the focus of her outreach and publicity work.
Wang promotes laws and regulations, such as the Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests, the Anti-Domestic Violence Law and the Civil Code, as well as anti-fraud awareness knowledge. She provides professional knowledge in everyday language, so the residents can easily understand and remember the information Wang is sharing.
When handling police calls or disputes involving women and/or children, she serves not only as a law enforcer, but as a mediator and educator. She uses real-life cases to explain the laws, and she stresses the importance of family virtues and neighborhood harmony.
Wang encourages women to contribute to rural revitalization and border stabilization. She also shares examples of entrepreneurial success and insights into family education, which inspires the local women to pursue better lives.
Wang especially cares for left-behind children, children living in difficulties and families facing special hardships. She often conducts home visits, during her spare time, so she can understand families' actual difficulties. She often coordinates resources, from various sources, to provide assistance to families. Wang's actions have helped the families feel the care from the police station, and from the women's federation.
From helping people in need, and patrolling borders and conducting emergency rescues, to resolving disputes and carrying out law-popularization activities, the mounted police safeguard the peace and stability of Hulun Buir Grassland.
Photos by Zhang Jiamin
(Source: Women of China)
Editor: Wang Shasha
