Early on the morning of Sept. 13, Zhang Yufu, an ecological forest ranger in Xinmin Village, Liugou Town, Jiange County, Guangyuan City, left home as usual. Having recently attended the release ceremony for the second batch of the 2026 "China Good Person List" and been honored as a "China Good Person", his daily routine remained unchanged: a red vest, a crossbody bag, a sickle, a hoe, a small loudspeaker, and a water bottle — none of his six essential patrol items were missing. His destination each morning is the section of the ancient Shu Road between Sankeshu and Jiangdongmiao, which he has guarded for nearly eight years. "These ancient cypresses are like old friends of mine. Seeing them thriving every day gives me peace of mind," Zhang said.

The Dedicated Guardian of the Cypresses

The more than 7,800 ancient trees along the Shu Road in the Cuiyunlang Ancient Cypress Nature Reserve constitute the world's oldest, largest, and best-preserved group of ancient man-made roadside trees. The Sankeshu-Jiangdongmiao section under Zhang's care is part of this heritage. Spanning over 10 kilometers round trip, it runs adjacent to National Highway 108, featuring steep slopes, sharp curves, heavy traffic, and scattered residential homes.

The 412 millennial cypresses within his jurisdiction face risks from vehicle collisions, fire, and pests, making their protection no easy task. "I ride my bike to Sankeshu every day to begin my patrol. Each time I arrive, I take a moment to sit beneath the 'Tree King'. It is over 1,700 years old and so massive that it takes four people to encircle it," Zhang said. He sets out punctually at 6 a.m. daily. Over the past eight years, he has worn out more than 40 pairs of rubber shoes, replaced several sets of maintenance tools, and filled eight patrol notebooks.

His patrol duties primarily involve inspecting for hazards such as fire risks, pests and diseases, illegal logging, and unauthorized climbing of ancient trees, while maintaining detailed records. With increasing tourist visits to Cuiyunlang, litter in the forest has grown, and incidents of visitors bringing ignition sources into the mountains occur from time to time. As a result, he now spends an extra hour or two each day cleaning up trash and advising tourists. "Although patrolling the mountains can be monotonous, guarding this forest gives me a profound sense of reassurance," Zhang said.

When asked about his patrolling tips, he could not articulate any specific method. He simply reminds every tourist he encounters, "Do not bring fire sources" and "Do not discard cigarette butts". At each cypress tree, he always pauses to look up and check for dead branches or insect holes at the base. He insists on detouring to inspect even the most remote corners that others might neglect, just to be sure everything is safe. As for what it means to fulfill his duty, he says, "If the trees are doing well, then my job is done."

"Zhang Yufu is straightforward and meticulous about everything," his colleagues remark. Once, upon discovering a tourist carrying a lighter into the mountains, he chased after them for over 1.5 kilometers to persuade them otherwise, eventually confiscating the lighter. The tourist jokingly called him "single-minded", and the nickname gradually spread.

"As a forest ranger, patrolling and protecting the forest is my bounden duty. No matter how hard it gets, I will persevere," Zhang said. Over the years, there have been no fires or major pest outbreaks in his area, and not a single one of the 412 ancient cypresses has suffered damage.

"I grew up alongside the Shu Road. When I was young, my elders told me these ancient cypresses were left by our ancestors and must be carefully protected," Zhang recalled. In his childhood, his father often took him along the ancient Shu Road, proactively clearing weeds around the tree roots and pruning dead branches — habits Zhang observed closely.

In late 2018, when the village recruited ecological forest rangers, Zhang volunteered immediately. At the time, his family was under considerable financial strain. His wife, Tian Juhua, initially objected, worried that with extensive farm work and livestock to tend to, he would be unable to attend to household responsibilities.

After Zhang repeatedly explained his commitment and promised to balance both responsibilities as much as possible, his wife finally agreed. She often remarks that he divides his life in two: one half for his family, the other for the ancient cypresses.

To thoroughly understand the condition of each ancient cypress, Zhang compiled his own "Ancient Cypress Archive", documenting trunk circumference, pest and disease status, and growth trends for every tree. In the Mafangwan section, where more than 10 households live close to the ancient trees, residents sometimes temporarily pile firewood and straw beneath the cypresses, especially during busy farming seasons. Zhang went door-to-door to educate villagers on fire prevention, patiently reasoning with those who were initially unresponsive.

Last year, a strong wind snapped a branch that fell across the Shu Road, blocking all pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Zhang, together with his colleagues and police officers on duty, worked through the rain to clear the debris, sawing branches and hauling away fallen timber until past 10 p.m., when the road was finally reopened. "No matter how tough or exhausting the work is, seeing the road clear and the forest safe brings me peace of mind," Zhang said.

"These ancient cypresses are our 'old friends', like family. I share a deep bond with them. Protecting these trees also means safeguarding a historical culture passed down through millennia." For nearly eight years, Zhang Yufu has walked the ancient Shu Road in his red vest, watching over 412 millennial cypresses.

Upon returning home from the "China Good Person List" ceremony, the first thing he did was enter the forest for his routine patrol — for him, it was simply another ordinary day.

【本文部分内容由AI辅助生成，特此声明。The author(s) generated part of the content in this work with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), which is hereby declared.】