On October 19, amid a new wave of COVID-19 outbreaks, several cities in Gansu Province, including Lanzhou, Zhangye, Tianshui, Jiayuguan, and Longnan, reported confirmed cases within just a few days, indicating a severe epidemic situation. Lanzhou and Tianshui, as the hardest-hit areas, saw local governments implement citywide lockdowns and control measures. All on-site engineering technicians from Sanlian Traffic’s Gansu office complied with government regulations and entered quarantine at their work locations.

Adding to the challenges, a strong cold front from Siberia brought harsh winter conditions. The on-site living conditions for the engineering team were extremely difficult, with no warm clothing during the day and no blankets at night, and no heating or air conditioning in their rooms. At the same time, the complexity of the new round of the epidemic increased. From October 23, shopping malls and restaurants in Lanzhou largely closed, and travel restrictions were imposed across the city. By October 27, Tianshui also went into lockdown, with roadblocks and suspension of public transport.

Due to the remote locations of most construction sites, basic living supplies were scarce, making it very challenging to procure daily necessities. Local staff relied on limited stored food to sustain themselves during the early phase of the epidemic. Despite these severe living conditions, all staff members at the Gansu office remained resilient and determined. Zhang Shengjie, the director of the Gansu office, stayed at the Lanzhou vehicle management examination site, subsisting solely on instant noodles and other fast food. Deputy Director Liang Weilong led a team of four engineers to continue installation work at the New Tianan Safety Examination Site in Tianshui, maintaining operations despite the closure of restaurants and the scarcity of living supplies. Their dedication and selfless work ethic earned high praise from customers and local public security traffic management departments, who extended their support to help the Sanlian staff overcome difficulties. The Gansu office is committed to remaining on the front lines to ensure the successful completion of year-end acceptance tasks.