奇速英语

Dawn brings mist (薄雾) to the towering Gaoligong Mountains in Dulongjiang, a remote area on the China-Myanmar border in Yunnan. For local Derung children, soldiers arriving here are “bringers of light”. This touching scene appears in Duan Aisong’s novel The Sparkling Stars, which has moved many readers since the 2026 Beijing Book Fair was held.

The story is told through a young Derung boy named Nanmusa. It records how the Derung people, one of China’s smallest ethnic groups with just over 7,000 people, jumped from a primitive (原始的) society straight into modern times. For years, they lived in extreme poverty. With great efforts from the country, soldiers, teachers and doctors, they completed their amazing journey.

The writer visited the area three times and collected many true stories. Young PLA soldiers and volunteers risked their lives to help the Derung people. Locals call these kind helpers “bringers of light” and pass on their gratitude from generation to generation.

Today, great changes have taken place in Dulongjiang. Children go to modern schools, families have electricity and 5G, and local handicrafts become popular. The novel tells us that every hero who devoted their life shines like a star, guiding this ethnic group out of darkness into a bright future.