Postal worker delivers better lives

National May 1 Labor Medal winner goes above and beyond to overcome obstacles, committing to the development of his hometown, Yang Feiyue reports.

Lhalung Dorje, a 17-year China Post staff member in his hometown Ruo'ergai county in Sichuan province, has not only overcome the demanding conditions of the plateau over the years to deliver to residents, but also helped promote the area's produce via livestreaming.

He recently drove five hours from his hometown to Wenchuan county in the northwest of the province to sell cherries.

"It's the season for local cherries and I go there at this time each year to help promote their sales through livestreaming," says the 40-year-old man.

During preparations for the broadcasts, he is a man of few words who appears to be a bit reserved when meeting strangers.

Yet, once the camera rolls, he is charged with the energy to vigorously explain the details of the local specialty.

The five-hour drive late last month didn't seem to deter his enthusiasm. "I'm used to being on the road," he says.

Years of delivering packages across the county and interactions with the residents have given him a deep understanding of the local produce and knowledge to find high-quality products at affordable prices.

In March 2021, he started his first livestreaming sales event, selling dried yak meat, milk powder, local pickled vegetables, dried mushrooms, buckwheat noodles and fruits.

"I tried to help my fellow villagers in pastoral areas sell their high-quality products so they can receive extra income," he says.

To date, he has broadcast about 10 livestreaming sessions, with sales reaching approximately 4 million yuan ($552,000).

Yet, Lhalung Dorje's main responsibility still lies with his postal service.

Ruo'ergai sits in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture on the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

The special geographical conditions make for stunning landscapes, yet pose challenges for travelers, especially postal service workers like Lhalung Dorje.

His routine routes are on average 3,500 meters above sea level and run more than 100 kilometers in their entirety through pastoral and forest areas that are full of hazards.

To date, he has covered more than 500,000 km and delivered more than 5 million documents and packages, without a miss.

His dedication to the industry has won him numerous awards, including the National May 1 Labor Medal in 2021, one of the most prestigious awards for working people in China.

Influenced by his father, who also worked as a postal delivery man, Lhalung Dorje considers it a huge honor to live up to his responsibilities.

"I felt like my father was a hero, wearing the uniform, carrying his bag and traversing the mountains and valleys," he recalls.

He remembers loving to sit on the front of the bike as a child and feeling the warmth of his father behind him, even during the wintertime.

The sight of the villagers sharing joy with his father when receiving their letters and packages has long been etched in his mind.

In 2007, Lhalung Dorje followed in his father's tracks.

"He told me on the first day that now that I had made my choice, I had to see it through," Lhalung Dorje says.