On the third day after military conflicts broke out in northern Myanmar, a reporter with Chongqing Morning Post visited a refugee camp in Manghai, Yunnan province to witness the living conditions of the Myanmar refugees.

After arriving in Manghai, the reporter first interviewed Baoshan, a farmer from Myanmar. On Nov. 20, Baoshan led over 100 people across the border river to enter Chinese territory. The father of three children, Baoshan never thought his life would be affected by a war.

A refugee watches his home across the border river.

"All the people were escaping toward China in panic. They knew this side is safe," Baoshan explained. "We did not feel safe until we entered Chinese territory."

According to Kong Enkong, a Chinese man living in the border region, the Chinese government has done an admirable job responding to the crisis.

"The Chinese government is providing food and shelter to the refugees. We should treat the refugees the same way we treat our brothers and sisters," Kong said.

Yang Yeping, a Myanmar woman, has been in the refugee camp for two days.

“There are more than 10 members in my family, and five are children. We came here on Nov. 20," she said. Her home is just across the river, but she doesn't dare go back. "It's so terrible, the bullets could hit anyone," she said.

Yang's family is living in a 12-square-meter tent, cooking meals for themselves. Occasionally, other people in the camp send food to Yang. She showed off the dinner she had prepared for her family: steamed rice, eggs and pickles.

"Any hot food is good enough during this time," she said.

According to the refugees in the camp, this is the first time many of them have seen war, even those over 50. Many are filled with anxiety, confronting the reality that they have no idea when they can go home. However, the refugees are satisfied with life in the camp. They have food to eat and a place to sleep, and - most importantly - it is safe. 

The border river.