Wang Jicai and his wife Wang Shihua hold a national flag raising ceremony as usual, on February 11, during the Chinese Spring Festival holiday. [81.cn]

Two soldiers, who are also a couple, have been guarding a small island located in the Yellow Sea for 30 years, dedicating their best years to China's coastal defense.

Kaishan Island, covering only 0.013 sq km, is 7.5 kilometers off of Chenjia Port, in Lianyungang, a city of east China's Jiangsu Province.

On February 11, during the Chinese Spring Festival holiday, Wang Jicai, 58, and his wife Wang Shihua, 56, held a national flag raising ceremony on the island as usual.

What was different this time was that their son Wang Zhiguo's family also attended the ceremony. He is now an officer of the Jiangsu provincial border armed police. He told a reporter that as soon as he finished his work the day before, he and his wife came to the island to spend the Spring Festival with their parents.

After breakfast, Jicai started his patrol.

The provincial military command will build an honors hall in front of a newly decorated barracks and in the future it will also serve as a national defense education base, he told the reporter.

There is no telephone, television or internet on the island. It takes more than an hour by boat to return to the Chinese mainland and the island is often cut off by fierce storms.

At the end of 1985, a militia post was set up on the island and the first four batches of guards were stationed there, but due to the harsh conditions, they left soon after.

On July 14, 1986, Jicai was assigned there for guard. At first, he had to drink and smoke to ease his loneliness. Forty-seven days later, his wife resigned her post as a primary school teacher, sent their daughter to her mother-in-law and came to the island to accompany her husband.

On July 9, 1987, Shihua gave birth to her son on the island. Because the route back to the mainland was cut off by bad weather, her husband had to deliver his son himself. Recalling the scene, her eyes filled with tears.

"I gave him the name of Zhiguo, hoping that he could protect our homes and defend our country when he grew up," said Jicai, referring to the name which means "to govern the country".　

"Although it is small, the island is an inalienable part of our motherland and needs to be protected," said the couple. They professed a desire to maintain the island as long as they could.

"On February 11 last year, my father was invited to a tea party in Beijing, during which he sat beside President Xi Jinping," Zhiguo added. "It was the honor of our whole family."

"President Xi was quite kind and approachable. He asked me about the situation of Kaishan Island, and then patted my shoulder, saying 'You have been working hard' and wishing our whole family a happy New Year," said Jicai excitedly.

Wang Jicai drags his wife Wang Shihua upward with a rope fastening. Whenever there is strong wind, they fasten each other with a rope to avoid being blown away. [81.cn]

The couple examines the sea conditions. [81.cn]

The couple hangs lanterns and puts up couplets to celebrate the Spring Festival. [81.cn]

The couple introduces the situation on the island to their son and daughter-in-law. [81.cn]

The couple repairs the barrier on the island. [81.cn] (Source: Chinanews/Translated and edited by Women of China)

Editor: Arnold Hou(Source: Chinanews/Translated and edited by Women of China)