Pic story of patrolling worker of natural gas pipes in China's Inner Mongolia

Tao Xiuhua drinks water during her rest in desert zones of Araxan Left Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 11, 2019. Tao, a 44 year-old herdswoman, started a part-time job to patrol along part of pipes of West-East natural gas transmission project since 2007. She and her husband, who is also a patrolling worker, are in charge of 10-kilometer-long pipes separately. Over the past ten years, she has been conscientiously patrolling along the pipes for over three hours a day in desert zones. The pipes Tao and her husband in charge of belong to a branch of the transmission project. A total of 67 kilometer-long pipes are laid in desert zones, and about three million people benefit from the branch. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)