President Xi Jinping on Saturday replied to a letter from Li Peisheng and Hu Xiaochun, grassroots heroes working at the Huangshan Mountain Scenic Area in Anhui Province. Xi hailed their longtime and dedicated efforts in keeping the mountain clean and tending to the Guest-Greeting Pine.
Xi expressed his expectation that Li and Hu will continue their exemplary work.

Hu Xiaochun holds a telescope to check the status of the Guest-Greeting Pine. (Photos: People's Daily)
The Guest-Greeting Pine, a famous landmark at Huangshan Mountain, is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Anhui Province. The tree, growing out of the rocks with a branch extending over the mouth of a cave, got the name mainly because it appears to be greeting anyone who arrives.
In 2006, Hu, a veteran just discharged from the army, took off his military uniform and put on a forest guardian uniform. He started to work as a firefighter in the Huangshan Scenic Area. In 2010, he became an apprentice of the 18th pine keeper Xu Dongming. That means Hu became one of the substitutes for the post.
In 2011, when Hu turned 29, Xu handed over the job. So far, he has been working on tending the Guest-Greeting Pine for 12 years.
To strengthen the protection to the Guest-Greeting Pine, the Huangshan Scenic Area authorities designated a dedicated post. Twenty-four-hour special protection is provided to the Guest-Greeting Pine.

Hu Xiaochun's journal
"To me, the Guest-Greeting Pine is more than just a tree, it is more like a family member. Tending on this pine is like protecting my own family," said Hu.
He may not be not good with words, but has always regarded the Guest-Greeting Pine as an elderly relative.
For 300 days a year, Hu checks in on the tree. In addition to observing the bark, shoots, branches and crown tops, his daily inspection is so detailed that even the pine needles are not spared.

Hu Xiaochun briefs reporters on the status of the Guest-Greeting Pine.
‘No change is the best change'
"No change is the best change," Hu said, explaining his understanding of tree tending.
For the past 12 years, Hu has been making routine patrols every two hours. He has become an expert in tree tending. Hu has the answers to questions such as when to pay attention to the growth of the treetops. How does he deal with windy weather? How does he make sure the soil doesn't run off after a heavy rain? What kind of monitoring needs to be strengthened when the seasons change?

For Hu, the deepest satisfaction comes when there are no abnormal changes in the trees.

(Compiled by Dong Feng)