[Going to the grassroots in the Spring Festival] With the car as a companion, walking alone in the sand sea.

　　In the hinterland of Taklimakan Desert, Hu Jun, a bulldozer of Team 2113 of Tarim Geophysical Exploration Department of the East Geophysical Exploration, climbed the big sandbag to observe the desert ahead (photo taken on January 13th). Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Lei photo

　　Xinhua News Agency, Urumqi, February 3 rd (Reporter Gu Yu, Su Chuanyi) "This desert road must be launched today." Before dawn, a roar of engines has awakened the silent hinterland of Taklimakan desert. After finishing the physical examination for the "partner" bulldozer, Hu Jun wiped the black oil on his hand and began to bump in the continuous sand dunes … …

　　Hu Jun, 47 years old, is a bulldozer in Team 2113 of Tarim Geophysical Exploration Department of Oriental Geophysical Prospecting. In October 2019, the Mesozoic 14-21 3D and Tazhong 2 3D geophysical prospecting projects in Tarim Oilfield started, and Hu Jun once again entered the hinterland of Taklimakan Desert.

　　As the first process of searching for oil and gas in the desert, Hu Jun and his workmates drive bulldozers every day to push roads in the hinterland of Taklimakan Desert, the "Sea of Death". With a construction area of more than 3,000 square kilometers and undulating sand dunes, the maximum drop of sand dunes exceeds 80 meters … … "The sandbag is too big to push the road, and the follow-up team can’t work."

　　In the hinterland of Taklimakan Desert, Hu Jun, the bulldozer driver of Team 2113 of Tarim Geophysical Exploration Department of the East Geophysical Exploration, drives the bulldozer forward (photo taken on January 13th). Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Lei photo

　　Every day, Hu Jun alone has to push out more than 10 kilometers of "road" in the desert according to the measuring point, even if he faces a big sandbag, he can’t bypass it. "The left-right deviation of the pushed road can only be less than 12.5 meters, and driving a bulldozer straight up and down on the sandbag, sometimes it feels like riding a roller coaster."

　　Bulldozers are called "desert loners", and they often sit alone in the car for a whole day, seeing nothing but yellow sand, but Hu Jun has long been used to loneliness, and bulldozers are his best companions.

　　Cars less than 1 square meter are the areas where Hu Jun works and lives during the day. At work, the sand gets into the car with the wind. Although there are masks and earmuffs, the sand will also get into the car whenever it meets the seams. The roar of the engine, the roar of the sand and the occasional sound from the radio bring some "noise" to the lonely work. "No one chats, and sometimes they sing by themselves."

　　In the hinterland of Taklimakan Desert, Hu Jun, a bulldozer driver of Team 2113 of Tarim Geophysical Exploration Department of the East Geophysical Exploration, drove the bulldozer up a big sand dune (photo taken on January 13th). Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Lei photo

　　Because the work area is too big, Hu Jun can only bring his own meals at noon every day, and the warm air outlet in the car becomes his insulated lunch box. Opening the plastic bag, a chicken leg, a ham sausage, a pack of mustard tuber and two steamed buns are already very rich in Hu Jun’s view. "I can still eat hot food, and some people can’t even eat hot rice."

　　The desert in winter is relatively calm only from September to March of next year. Although it is cold, it is the best construction period for geophysical prospecting workers, which also means that they must stay in the desert during the Spring Festival and cannot reunite with their families.

　　Hu Jun has not been reunited with his family for more than 20 Spring Festival. After returning home, he did not adapt to the prosperity and excitement of the city. "I don’t even know what to buy."

　　In the hinterland of Taklimakan Desert, Hu Jun, the bulldozer hand of Team 2113 of Tarim Geophysical Exploration Department of Oriental Geophysical Exploration, is checking the bulldozer oil (photo taken on January 13th). Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Lei photo

　　In order to catch up with the construction period, Hu Jun and his workmates had a day off at the very most during the Spring Festival this year. Because the signal is unstable, I call home. Hu Jun runs several sand dunes every day.

　　Thousands of kilometers away from home, accompanied by cars, silently pushing the road. However, in his mind, his own hard work is nothing. "As long as you contribute to the country and find oil for the country, it’s all worth it!"

　　In the hinterland of Taklimakan Desert, Hu Jun, a bulldozer of Team 2113 of Tarim Geophysical Exploration Department of the East Geophysical Exploration, climbed the big sandbag to observe the surrounding desert (photo taken on January 13th). Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Lei photo