China News Service, Wenzhou, April 1 (Zhou Jian) "It seems that we have come to volunteer to help keep the lighthouse, but we have also sublimated ourselves... The most romantic thing I have ever thought of is to meet you, the lighthouse, in this life." A North Korean Volunteers from the Lushan Lighthouse wrote this on an online forum.
Beiji Mountain Lighthouse is located on Beiji Island, Ruian, Wenzhou, Zhejiang. It is the only world-class large-scale manned lighthouse in Wenzhou waters. In 2014, it took the lead in carrying out lighthouse duty volunteer service activities in China. As of the end of 2023, this activity has completed 174 batches of 460 volunteers serving on the island. Because of its beautiful volunteer work environment, it has been called “the most romantic volunteer job in China” by netizens.
A view of Beiji Mountain Lighthouse. Photo by Zhou Jian
Under a lighthouse, romance "until death do us part". From March 30 to March 31, the 10th anniversary event of the Beiji Mountain Lighthouse volunteer service was held. The first batch of volunteers in 2024 talked about their feelings with past volunteer representatives. In their hearts, this "romance" of volunteer service has their own "interpretation".
College student Chen Siting, one of the first batch of volunteers in 2024, comes from Guiyang, Guizhou. From the western mountains to the islands in southern Zhejiang, for her, "romance" hit her face the moment she set foot on Beiji Island. "'Romance' comes from 'facing the sea'. Southerners who live in the mountains all year round have a sense of longing for the sea." Chen Siting said in an interview.
Beiji Island is about 50 kilometers away from the coast of Ruian. The surrounding water is blue. The island is dotted with stone houses, reeds everywhere, and swarms of seagulls. The red lighthouse is at the highest point of the island. There is a library and tea room under the tower, and there is a beautiful sea view outside the window. Three meals a day, facing the sea, with spring flowers blooming.
The colorful sunset captured at the Beiji Mountain Lighthouse Observation Deck. Photo by Zhou Jian
"I can quietly look at the sea here, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, listen to the chirping of seagulls, watch the sunrise and sunset... I have already thought about what to do at which point and place. This is 'romantic'." Chen Siting imagined the future The life scenes of the past few days showed a face full of joy and expectation.
Professor Yang Jianyun from Shanghai is volunteer No. 112. In her eyes, the "romance" of volunteer service comes from her "heartbeat" for the lighthouse. "One day, I stood on the balcony of the lighthouse and looked at the starry sky. There was also a light spinning on top. At that moment, I seemed to feel that the lighthouse and the stars were lighting up for me."
In 2016, two other young girls participated in volunteer services with Yang Jianyun. Although they had not seen each other for 8 years after the event, they still greeted each other online. "I am much older than the two girls. Watching them grow from little girls to mothers is a kind of romance." Yang Jianyun said.
Meeting, getting along, parting... In the past ten years, Beiji Mountain Lighthouse has created countless bonds and concerns between people. Compared with the environment, this emotional "romance" seems to be more worth recalling.
Participants of the 10th anniversary event of Beiji Mountain Lighthouse volunteer service took a group photo. Photo by Zhou Jian
Five years ago, Shan Sizhe, a young man from Wenzhou, came to Beilishan Lighthouse to work as a volunteer. Whenever he was free, he liked to run down the mountain, chat with the shop owner, and say hello to the fisherman... At that time, Beilishan Island A new dock was being built, and there he met Brother Tian from Fuyang, Anhui.
"Brother Tian was a little resistant to me at first because he was a stranger. As we were chatting, he suddenly said that his child was about the same age as me, but because he went out to work all year round, the two of us spent less time together and more time apart." Shan Sizhe Recalling, "I was so moved by the scene that I asked Brother Tian to take out his mobile phone and have a video chat with the child. He talked and I listened, and we both cried."
Shan Sizhe also has a "romantic memory", which originated from seafood. The night he first arrived at the lighthouse, Du Zhongliang, director of the Beiji Mountain Lighthouse, prepared a lot of shells and fish food. "But I don't like fish. Director Du noticed it and asked me what I like to eat. I said I like crabs."
"I didn't expect Director Du to remember my words." The next evening, Shan Sizhe was reading in the room when he was interrupted by a knock on the door. He opened the door and saw Du Zhongliang carrying a bag and asked, "Xiao Dan Xiao Dan, look what this is?" "It's a crab! The crabs brought from the mountain that night were the most delicious!" Shan Si Zhe said this, with the corners of his mouth raised and his eyes a little red.
It is reported that volunteers usually guard the tower for about 10 days. Du Zhongliang, the director of the Beiji Mountain Lighthouse mentioned by Shan Sizhe, has guarded the lighthouse for 34 years. Since the launch of the volunteer activity, he has imparted work content, explained the history of the lighthouse, and taken care of daily life. It can be said that he is the "backbone" of this "most romantic volunteer job in China".
Du Zhongliang (first from left), director of the Beiji Mountain Lighthouse, takes a group photo with the first batch of volunteers in 2024. Photo by Zhou Jian
When it comes to "romance", Du Zhongliang also believes that it lies in the relationship between people. "Volunteers alleviate the boredom of my lighthouse duty job, and I also bring them inner peace and ease of life. It can be said that we achieve mutual success." .”
In fact, Du Zhongliang was accompanied by his wife Yang Shenghua. In 2014, she came to Beiji Island and chose to guard the lighthouse with her husband, becoming the first female lighthouse worker on the island. "She would buy flowers and put them in the lighthouse teahouse. The bunches on the table are so beautiful." Du Zhongliang pointed, and then handed his wife a peeled orange.
At this time, under the lighthouse outside the house, the camellias planted also bloomed beautifully in the wind and rain. "Romance" can be seen everywhere...(End)