14 Years Teaching Soldiers’ Children in the Gobi Desert
For 14 years, a quiet but extraordinary mission has unfolded across 2,500 kilometers of Chinese territory. Volunteer teachers from Taixing City in eastern Jiangsu Province have been traveling to a remote Air Force base in the Gobi Desert to educate the children of soldiers stationed there. What began as a small cooperation agreement in 2012 has grown into a transformative educational program that has sent over 77 teachers to one of China’s most isolated regions, with results that have exceeded all expectations.
A Mission Born from Necessity
The program began in 2012 when the children’s school at an Air Force unit in the northwestern Gobi Desert partnered with the Taixing Municipal Education Bureau. The first cohort of teachers boarded a train for a two-day, one-night journey from the lush, water-rich Yangtze River Delta to the barren expanse of the Gobi. As CCTV News reported, the teachers arrived at a place where “there are no birds in the sky, no grass on the ground, and wind blows stones across the land.”
At that time, the school faced a grim reality: no student had ever reached the admission line for Jiuquan High School, with the best score falling 138 points short. The challenges were compounded by extreme weather — early and harsh winters, sandstorms, and the constant roar of fighter jets from the nearby training ground.
Breakthrough and Dedication
The first cohort, led by teacher Chen Hui (陈辉) from Taixing Yangsi Middle School, achieved what many thought impossible. Within a year, four students were admitted to Jiuquan High School — a historic first for the school. When his initial term ended, Chen Hui chose to stay, extending his service to three years. “Soldiers protect the country and our homes,” he said, as reported by Taixing News. “I should guard the classroom for their children.”
In 2015, teacher Bian Feng (卞锋) from Taixing Jinjiang Primary School took dedication a step further, relocating his entire family — wife and three-year-old child — to the Gobi Desert. He brought innovative teaching methods from his home school, conducting demonstration lessons and helping local teachers develop their skills.
Teacher Ma Jun (马君), who arrived in 2017, founded the “Blooming in the Desert” Literary Society, publishing 59 student works within three months. He introduced a multi-dimensional evaluation system that moved beyond exam scores, establishing art clubs and drama programs. “Let the flowers of the Gobi bloom to their fullest,” Ma Jun said, according to Taixing News.
Building a Sustainable Legacy
Perhaps the program’s most significant achievement is its sustainability. Through a mentorship system known as “师徒结对” (master-apprentice pairing), 31 local teachers have developed into provincial and municipal-level teaching experts, creating what officials describe as a “team that won’t leave.”
Teacher Yan Xingjian (严兴建), who arrived in 2023 and became principal in 2024, embodied this commitment. Despite severe health issues — weight loss of 10 kilograms, recurring nosebleeds, and gastroenteritis caused by the arid climate — he led the school through comprehensive reforms. He organized visits to satellite launch centers, invited military heroes to speak, and developed a “Strong Nation Has Me” curriculum that wove patriotism into daily lessons. “The education of military children must have the soul of a soldier,” Yan Xingjian said.
Remarkable Results
The academic transformation has been dramatic. In 2025, the school achieved its best-ever examination results, ranking first and second in the Jiuquan region, with another student in the top ten. Over 20 military children have gained admission to Tsinghua and Peking Universities — China’s most prestigious institutions — with hundreds more entering other top universities. As China Military Online reported, soldiers at the base said: “What they brought was not just grades, but faith and hope.”
A Continuing Mission
The program’s motto — “You guard the nation, we guard your children” — captures the spirit of mutual support that drives the initiative. Each summer, as one cohort of teachers completes its mission and returns to Taixing, the next group is already preparing to depart.
Teacher Wan Feng (万锋), who departed in the June 2026 graduation season, reflected on his experience: “For every volunteer teacher, it’s not so much about how much we gave, but how much we received.” He recalled a moment in class when he asked children what their fathers did. One little girl stood up and said: “My dad protects the motherland.”
As the program enters its 15th year, the train continues to roll westward, carrying teachers from the green Jiangnan region to the vast Gobi, bringing knowledge, opportunity, and a powerful message of solidarity to the families who guard China’s borders.