Legbo Valley, located on the southern slope of the Himalayas, means "a good place" in Tibetan language. It is a border valley in Cona City, Shannan City, Xizang Autonomous Region, and also one of the main settlements of the Monba ethnic group, one of China's ethnic minorities. Along the roadside, the Nyang Qu River rushes down, linking the four Monba ethnic townships of Jiba, Gongri, Mama, and Lad.

Lad Monba Ethnic Township, located deep in Legbo Valley, has an average altitude of more than 2,300 meters, a warm and humid climate, and is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round. In Lad Township, three brothers—Tenzin Gyatso, Tsering Sidar, and Dorje Tenzin—joined the army one after another, and after retiring from service they returnedto participate in the construction of their hometown and guard this land.

"My father's greatest wish during his lifetime was for us to go out, either to study and become successful, or to join the army and serve the country." Recalled the eldest brother, Tenzin Gyatso.

In 2007, at the age of 21, he went to Ngari Prefecture, China's Xizang, to guard the border. After being discharged from the army, seeing the rapid changes in his hometown, he went from opening a farmhouse restaurant to transportation, constantly exploring new paths to increase income and become prosperous.

The eldest brother is the best role model for his younger brothers. Tsering Sidar, born in 1993, joined the army in the year his brother was discharged. Two years of military life turned him from an ignorant youth into a "steel warrior." In 2015, he became a full-time forest ranger and also served as a border guard.

The youngest brother, Dorje Tenzin, was a non-commissioned officer directly recruited from university. Not long after being discharged, he also returned to his brothers' side. "Being able to participate in the construction of my hometown together with my brothers, I feel it is very meaningful." He said.

Legbo Valley has a high forest coverage rate. Protecting the green water and green mountains is protecting the barrier of the border.

At 9 a.m., Tsering Sidar sets out on time. As a full-time forest ranger, he often needs to patrol the primitive forest, checking for tree diseases and pests, and whether anyone is cutting or digging indiscriminately. Tsering Sidar introduced that the farthest point is at an altitude of over 5,000 meters, where the air is thin and the climate is changeable. Once, a companion suffered such severe altitude sickness that he lost consciousness, and several people in the group took turns carrying him and pulling him with ropes before they could cross the mountain pass.

"This work is very tiring, but we all feel it is glorious." Tsering Sidar said with firm eyes, "this is home, and it is also national territory."

Now, the border patrol road has been built to the foot of the mountain, and conditions have improved, but their sense of responsibility for guarding the national territory has never changed. Tsering Sidar said: "Now the state provides subsidies, and the policies are good, so we must guard this forest even better."

With the advancement of urbanization in Cuona City, Legbo Valley has also accelerated its pace of development. Tenzin Gyatso keenly captured the business opportunity. He took out loans to buy dump trucks and cement tanker trucks, and led his third brother Dorje Tenzin to engage in transportation. "It was very difficult at the beginning, with great pressure from vehicle loans, and the roads were not easy to travel." Said Tenzin Gyatso. But relying on the tenacity developed in the military, their transport team gradually began to improve.

To cooperate with local construction, Dorje Tenzin registered and established a machinery leasing company, fully equipped with large machinery such as excavators and truck-mounted cranes. Dorje Tenzin introduced that the company currently has eight vehicles and also provides villagers free of charge with small equipment such as electric welders and cutting machines.

The eldest brother, Tenzin Gyatso, also has a special title—the "cloud spokesperson" of his hometown. In 2023, he began trying to promote his hometown on social media platforms. In his videos, there are the sea of clouds and waterfalls of Legbo Valley, the traditional clothing of the Monba ethnic group, and aromatic high-mountain tea.

"At first, I made videos to practice my speaking skills, but later I found that it could promote my hometown." Said Tenzin Gyatso. Many netizens learned about the real Legbo Valley through his videos. "Some people specifically came to travel and buy our tea." Through his lens, more and more Legbo Valley tea has moved from deep mountains to the whole country, and Monba culture has also become known to more people.

Li Yonghui, Party Secretary of Lad Monba Ethnic Township, introduced that Lad Township's climate is particularly suitable for tea growth. In 2013, a tea farmers' and herders' professional cooperative was established, successfully creating tea brands such as "Lecang Lian." Lad Township currently has 140,000㎡ of tea fields available for picking, and total tea income reached over 4.9 million yuan in 2025. "The masses rent their land to the cooperative, and not only do they receive land rent, but they can also work in the tea factory and receive wages. At the end of the year, each person also receives a dividend of at least 5,000 yuan." Said Li Yonghui.

As night falls, the masses of Lad Township light bonfires on the square and dance the Monba-style circle dance. The leaping firelight shines on their smiling faces, and amid spinning and jumping, they together move toward a happier and more beautiful tomorrow.

Reporter: Lu Danyang

Translator: Tenzin Seldron

First Review: Zhi Xinghua

Second Review: Drakpa Wangchen

Third Review: Hu Rongguo