[Explanation] With a hoe on his back, dustpan and broom, 47-year-old Yan Xinan started working day after day.

For 39 years, Yan Xinan relayed his father, Yan Longzhang, to guard the Cixiang Temple, a key cultural relic protection unit in the country.

In his view, Cixiang Temple is his home, and guarding the temple is the lifetime responsibility of the father and son.

　　Cixiang Temple is located in Jiguo Village, Pingyao, Shanxi. It was originally named Shengju Temple. It was built during the Qingli reign of Song Dynasty. The temple was destroyed by the burning of the pagoda at the end of Song Dynasty. It has been continuously repaired and reconstructed in all dynasties.

Except for the main hall and brick tower, which are relics of the Jin Dynasty, the rest are rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty.

In 2001, Cixiang Temple was approved by the State Council to be included in the fifth batch of national key cultural relics protection units.

　　On the morning of September 14, Yan Xinan cleaned the gate, stage, front hall, main hall and Lutai Tower from south to north.

Lutai Tower is the most difficult to clean. This tower is an octagonal nine-story pavilion nearly 50 meters high.

The stone steps on the first floor are narrow, only 0.6 meters wide, and he can only bend up sideways.

Above the second floor is a steep wooden ladder, and each cleaning takes 2 hours.

　　[Concurrent] Yan Xinan, Cultural Relic Administrator of Cixiang Temple

　　This tower often goes up, and in case of rain or something, you have to go up once a week for cleaning.

This temple is mainly cleaned every day, hoeing the weeds inside, clearing the weeds on the roof, and reporting any danger.

　　[Explanation] Yan Xinan's relationship with Cixiang Temple began with his father, Yan Longzhang.

In 1981, his father was recruited by the local cultural relics management department as the cultural relics administrator of Cixiang Temple.

There was a thief who tried to steal cultural relics such as drums and stone tablets in the temple, and his father moved the cultural relics to the local museum after several times.

　　[Concurrent] Yan Xinan, Cultural Relic Administrator of Cixiang Temple

　　My father came here in 1981. Because my father had served as a soldier, he was more bold and cautious, so he chose to come here to guard the temple.

When I was in elementary school when I was six or seven years old, I followed my father to sleep at night in this temple and helped him with work.

　　[Explanation] Out of worship for his father, in 1989, the 16-year-old Yan Xinan formally joined the team of "Temple Keepers" and guarded Cixiang Temple with his father.

After his father died in 2004, Yan Xinan assumed the responsibility of guarding the temple alone.

Three years later, he began to receive a monthly salary of 400 yuan.

The couple moved from the cave dwelling next to the temple to live in a brick house. Apart from guarding the temple, they rely on farming and farming to subsidize the family, but their lives are still struggling.

His wife Wen Xiuzhen has repeatedly advised him to go out to work and earn money, but Yan Xinan has always been unable to let go of the responsibility of guarding the temple.

　　[Concurrent] Yan Xinan's wife Wen Xiuzhen

　　If you don't support it, you can earn less money and you can't live.

And because he owes foreign debts, I want him to go out and earn more.

But he was reluctant, he was reluctant to leave.

　　[Commentary] Recalling the hardships of guarding the temple over the years, Wen Xiuzhen couldn't help crying, but was also moved by Yan Xinan's persistence.

Today, Yan Xinan can receive a salary of more than 1,000 yuan a month.

He said that although he is not rich, he is content to guard the temple.

　　[Concurrent] Yan Xinan, Cultural Relic Administrator of Cixiang Temple

　　I have been in this temple since I was six or seven years old. This temple has become a "home", and it has become my "home" if it is very emotional.

　　[Concurrent] Yan Xinan's wife Wen Xiuzhen

　　I don't want to go back at home now, I am used to being here.

If someone uses us in the future, I will definitely stay with him to the end.

　　Reporter Wang Huilin reports from Shanxi Jinzhong

Editor in charge: [Wang Kai]