Police officers stand guard at China's highest-altitude border police station

Head of the Pumaqangtang border police station arranges police equipment in Pumaqangtang Township in Shannan, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 19, 2026. Pumaqangtang, China's highest township, has an average altitude of 5,373 meters, with oxygen levels less than a half of that at sea level.

Here stands the Pumaqangtang border police station, the highest-altitude border police station in China. Police and auxiliary police officers here, with an average age of just over 30, hold their posts on the frigid, oxygen-thin plateau. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Police officers of the Pumaqangtang border police station help a man free his truck from being stuck in Shannan, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 19, 2026. Pumaqangtang, China's highest township, has an average altitude of 5,373 meters, with oxygen levels less than a half of that at sea level.

Here stands the Pumaqangtang border police station, the highest-altitude border police station in China. Police and auxiliary police officers here, with an average age of just over 30, hold their posts on the frigid, oxygen-thin plateau. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

A police officer (L) visits a resident in Pumaqangtang Township in Shannan, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 19, 2026. Pumaqangtang, China's highest township, has an average altitude of 5,373 meters, with oxygen levels less than a half of that at sea level.

Here stands the Pumaqangtang border police station, the highest-altitude border police station in China. Police and auxiliary police officers here, with an average age of just over 30, hold their posts on the frigid, oxygen-thin plateau. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 19, 2026 shows a view of the Gangbu glacier along the police patrol route in Shannan, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Pumaqangtang, China's highest township, has an average altitude of 5,373 meters, with oxygen levels less than a half of that at sea level.

Here stands the Pumaqangtang border police station, the highest-altitude border police station in China. Police and auxiliary police officers here, with an average age of just over 30, hold their posts on the frigid, oxygen-thin plateau. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

A police officer of the Pumaqangtang border police station takes photos of flowers along the patrol route in Shannan, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 19, 2026. Pumaqangtang, China's highest township, has an average altitude of 5,373 meters, with oxygen levels less than a half of that at sea level.

Here stands the Pumaqangtang border police station, the highest-altitude border police station in China. Police and auxiliary police officers here, with an average age of just over 30, hold their posts on the frigid, oxygen-thin plateau. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Police officers of the Pumaqangtang border police station patrol in Shannan, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 19, 2026. Pumaqangtang, China's highest township, has an average altitude of 5,373 meters, with oxygen levels less than a half of that at sea level.

Here stands the Pumaqangtang border police station, the highest-altitude border police station in China. Police and auxiliary police officers here, with an average age of just over 30, hold their posts on the frigid, oxygen-thin plateau. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Police officers of the Pumaqangtang border police station help a man free his truck from being stuck in Shannan, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 19, 2026. Pumaqangtang, China's highest township, has an average altitude of 5,373 meters, with oxygen levels less than a half of that at sea level.

Here stands the Pumaqangtang border police station, the highest-altitude border police station in China. Police and auxiliary police officers here, with an average age of just over 30, hold their posts on the frigid, oxygen-thin plateau. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

Police officers of the Pumaqangtang border police station patrol near the Gangbu glacier in Shannan, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Aug. 19, 2026. Pumaqangtang, China's highest township, has an average altitude of 5,373 meters, with oxygen levels less than a half of that at sea level.

Here stands the Pumaqangtang border police station, the highest-altitude border police station in China. Police and auxiliary police officers here, with an average age of just over 30, hold their posts on the frigid, oxygen-thin plateau. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 19, 2026 shows a view of Pumaqangtang Township in Shannan, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Pumaqangtang, China's highest township, has an average altitude of 5,373 meters, with oxygen levels less than a half of that at sea level.

Here stands the Pumaqangtang border police station, the highest-altitude border police station in China. Police and auxiliary police officers here, with an average age of just over 30, hold their posts on the frigid, oxygen-thin plateau. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)