Ce Geng (L) prepares to take an online class with her mother's company in Alxa Left Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, April 1, 2020. Ce Geng, a 9-year-old fourth grader of a Mongolian School in Alxa Left Banner, moved here with her parents to look after the sheep as the shepherd they had hired from other Province failed to come back due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The family's ranch is located near the border between China and Mongolia in the northern part of Alxa, more than 6 hours' drive from downtown Alxa Left Banner. The rocky gobi mountains around make it difficult for the family to catch stable Wi-Fi, especially in cloudy or windy days. In order not to miss Ce Geng's class, her parents have to pick her up by the pickup truck and drive around their ranch to look for better Wi-Fi when the weather is bad. Despite the difficulties, Ce Geng and her parents are still delighted to see her making progress day by day. Looking back at 2020, there are always some warm pictures and touching moments: the dedication on the front line to fight against the epidemic, the perseverance on the way out of poverty, the courage to shoulder the responsibility on the embankment against the flood, the joy and pride when reaching the summit of Mount Qomolangma... These people and things touch our hearts and give us warmth and strength. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
