In mid October, the construction of a well-furnished apartment building for transportation troops was finished in the rear base of plateau transportation units in Yecheng, Xinjiang Autonomous Region. The building, which is equipped with bathrooms, a TV room and an entertainment room, can hold more than 120 people. Besides, magnetic card-telephone is also available in the apartment building. Accordingly, the lasting troublesome problem of providing daily life support for automobile soldiers has been basically solved thanks to the efforts of the Xinjiang Military Area Command. The Xinjiang-Tibet Highway enjoys an average altitude of more than 4,500 meters, with annual average temperature of 10℃ below zero. The environmental conditions there are very bad, and natural disasters such as snowslide, floods and mudslide occur form time to time. Hence, the transportation department of the Xinjiang Military Area Command has made down-to-earth efforts to improve transportation troops' living conditions. For example, the department bought cold-resistance facilities for the drivers. In August this year, a shower center was built in a medical center, and simple bathrooms were also built in the military stations along the highway. As a result, automobile soldiers driving between the Kunlun Mountain and Ali Plateau can enjoy hot shower now.

　　At the same time, the transportation department has established a perfect medical support system on the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway with the help of the medical department. At present, there are over 10 medical offices or stations along the highway, equipped with ambulance, electrocardiograph and multi-parameter monitoring device, etc. Besides, according to the reality that most of the cases are caused by anoxia, the Thirty-li Barracks Medical Station and the Ali Military Sub-Command are equipped with military oxygen equipment, as well as first-aid kits and oxygen bags for each automobile. In May, over 30 vehicles of a transportation regiment loaded with materials headed for the Ali Plateau. It was the first time for about half of the drivers to go up to the plateau. On the way, the temperature abruptly dropped to 20℃ below zero. However, no one suffered common plateau illnesses.

　　By Li Fengming and Wei Chun

　　(December 2，PLA Daily)