A simply modified unicycle cart, a fraying backpack, a five-starred red flag, and eight notebooks stamped with over 17,000 seals from anti-drug departments... These are all the "belongings" of 27-year-old Kurban Tursun from Xinjiang. On April 4, 2007, Kurban set off on foot from his hometown in Kashgar, Xinjiang, pushing the unicycle to promote "drug prevention and AIDS awareness." So far, his footsteps have covered 22 provinces and cities including Gansu, Shaanxi, Heilongjiang, Hebei, Beijing, Shandong, Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Fujian, traveling over 40,000 kilometers. On February 20, officers from the Ganjiang Border Police Station of the Beihai Border Defense Detachment in Guangxi joined the young man in pushing his "anti-drug cart" to conduct anti-drug publicity in Hepu County.
The police instantly recognized he wasn’t a “foreigner”
At around 5:00 p.m. on February 18, a young man over 1.9 meters tall pushing a unicycle adorned with a five-starred red flag and anti-drug and AIDS awareness slogans appeared at the entrance of the Ganjiang Border Police Station of the Beihai Border Defense Detachment. The young man had dark skin, a mustache, and wore a military-green five-star military cap. Pushing the unicycle, which flew a five-starred red flag and bore slogans such as “Mobilize the whole society to combat drug crimes, cherish life, and stay away from drugs,” the young man’s appearance drew a crowd of onlookers. Due to his unusual attire, many asked where this “foreigner” was from. When Officer Xiao Li came out to investigate, he immediately recognized the young man as Kurban Tursun, an anti-drug and AIDS prevention volunteer from Kashgar, Xinjiang, who was hiking across the country to promote knowledge on drug prevention and AIDS awareness—not some “foreigner.”
“Hello, I’d like to get an official stamp.” Upon seeing the police, Kurban politely presented relevant documents and certificates and gave a brief self-introduction. “Please come to the duty room for some water—we’ll do our best to help.” Seeing that Kurban had arrived in their jurisdiction, Xiao Li warmly invited him to the police station as a “guest.”
Determined to promote drug prevention after a friend died of drug use
After entering the duty room, Kurban Tursun explained in detail to the officers the purpose of his visit to the Ganjiang Border Police Station. As he spoke, Kurban opened his fraying backpack and took out eight thick notebooks from a plastic bag. “I’d like you to write words of blessing and stamp them in my ‘National Anti-Drug and AIDS Prevention Promotion’ notebook.” Having previously learned about his story and after seeking approval, the officers wrote words of encouragement for Kurban. Then, Kurban conversed with the officers in halting Mandarin. He said that he is 27 years old, an ethnic Uyghur from Kucha Beixi Village, Haokan Township, Kashgar City, Xinjiang. He was formerly a taekwondo student at the Kashgar City Sports School and has a secondary vocational education. In early 2007, one of his closest friends passed away due to drug use, which deeply saddened him and made him acutely aware of the dangers of drugs. Therefore, starting on April 4, 2007, he embarked on a nearly five-year nationwide anti-drug and AIDS prevention promotional trek. Traveling alone, from the age of 23 to now 27, spanning 4 years and 10 months and covering over 40,000 kilometers, regardless of harsh cold or intense heat, with firm belief and determination, he has spread knowledge on drug prevention and AIDS awareness to 22 provinces and municipalities including Gansu, Beijing, Shanghai, Hainan, and Guangxi.
During the subsequent conversation, Kurban introduced the officers to the basic situation and progress of anti-drug and AIDS prevention work in various places along the way, learned about the current status and implementation of such work in the Ganjiang Border Police Station’s jurisdiction, and exchanged views with the officers on how to carry out effective anti-drug and AIDS prevention efforts.
Police help solve accommodation and food issues
During the final exchange, the officers learned that Kurban urgently needed to resolve accommodation and food issues. As a Muslim, the biggest challenge he faced along the way was finding suitable food. Additionally, through side conversations, they learned that the funds Kurban had brought for his nationwide promotional tour over the past four years had long been exhausted. His current living support mainly came from his parents and kind-hearted people along the way, often resulting in him living a life of roughing it. Upon learning of these circumstances, the officers split into two groups—one went into Hepu County to look for halal restaurants, striving to let Kurban enjoy a meal from his hometown, while the other group was responsible for contacting and arranging accommodations to ensure Kurban Tursun had a comfortable place to stay while conducting anti-drug and AIDS prevention promotions in the jurisdiction.
As Kurban Tursun was about to leave the police station, the officers handed him 500 yuan in consolation money to provide what help they could. The officers expressed that although they couldn’t solve his major practical difficulties, it represented their admiration for his contributions to anti-drug and AIDS prevention work, as well as their respect for his actions and perseverance. They also said they would join him the next day to promote anti-drug efforts in the jurisdiction. Deeply moved, Kurban said, “Receiving care and support from the police when I was most in need gives me courage. No matter what difficulties I face in the future, I will not be afraid, because there are people like you, who are dedicated to anti-drug work, silently supporting me. I will continue the promotion of anti-drug and AIDS prevention efforts, and I will make sure you receive good news from me in Xinjiang in December 2012.”