On November 8, 2021, Anshan welcomed its first snowfall of the winter. This massive blizzard set another record for the city since 2007, with an average snowfall of 80.8 mm in the urban area and an average snow depth of 53cm. This sudden blizzard caught Anshan residents off guard. City traffic came to a halt due to the heavy snowfall, with all buses suspended, and vehicles deeply buried by the relentless snow, unable to move.

A corner of the street after the blizzard

In the face of such extreme weather with knee-deep snow, the first things that came to our employees’ mind were: what will happen to the drawings that are due today if we can’t get to the office? How will we submit today’s assignments? How will we attend today’s meetings? And how will our colleagues manage lunch today? A barrage of questions loomed before them, yet hundreds of Huatai employees were not deterred by this rare blizzard. Braving the wind and snow, they went to the office on foot from all directions, trudging through the deep snow. No matter how fierce the wind and snow, no matter how great the hardship and fatigue, nothing could deter their determination and resolve to reach their workplaces. It was a sense of duty and responsibility that gave everyone the courage to face this natural disaster head-on without backing down.

At around 6:00 a.m. on November 8, there was no public transportation on the roads, and pedestrians were also few and far between. Colleagues living in the Hunan Subdistrict began their arduous trek on foot. Among them were Director Yuan Xiao’an, Hao Lixiang, and Wang Qian. In the face of these challenges, Director Yuan, mindful of the many tasks awaiting him at the office, made his way to work step by step. Shi Qiaonan, Sun Wenbin, Zhang Yasong, Yu Xiaomeng, Zhou Xiuli, Liu Yingchao, Tong Jin, Sun Yu and other colleagues who live in the High-Tech Zone and Lishan District showed significant resilience and perseverance as they trudged through the biting wind and heavy snow. To ease the fatigue of the journey, they encouraged one another, taking 2 hours and 24 minutes to conquer the 10.5-kilometer snow-covered road. Colleagues who live in Tiexi District such as Wang Cheng and Zhuang Xin, also set out for office on foot. Young colleagues from the dormitories including Wang Baoke, Wang Qi, Zheng Li, Liu Yunbin, and others, actively joined the walking group. After two hours, they finally arrived at their workplaces. The blizzard had tested their willpower and character. Vice Director Li Fang overcame her persistent lower back pain and walked for 3 hours through the wind and snow to reach the office. Employees living near the office, such as Deputy Chief Engineer Zhang Xiaoguang, Deputy Director Mao Yang, Chief Engineer Chen Bencheng, Deputy Director Zhao Ji, Chief Engineer Liu Shicheng, Li Jingmin, Liang Huishu, and Bai Yu, also led by example and charged ahead.

By the time they arrived at work, their hair was covered by snowflakes, their glasses fogged up, and their shoes and socks were already soaked through with melted snow. No one knew how many times they had slipped or fallen, but none of this could dampen their enthusiasm for getting to work. Everyone did so without complaint, and each colleague who arrived on the job felt a sense of joy and pride, as if they had just emerged victorious from a battle. That evening, colleagues who lived far from the office stayed at nearby hotels, colleagues’ homes, or relatives’ homes to ensure they could arrive on time and work normally the next day. Just before the end of the workday, Zhang Yun and Sun Liang received an urgent assignment. They worked overtime without having dinner and walked home at 8:00 p.m., after completing the task.

Heavy snow fell steadily all day long. Huatai employees braved the wind and snow to the office and trudged through the snow back home. Though the weather was harsh, everyone’s hearts were warm. Just as they would protect their own families, every Huatai employee safeguarded the Huatai family, embodying a strong sense of responsibility and mission.

With a sense of duty and perseverance, Huatai employees touched everyone around them with their dedication and warmth amidst this blizzard. Through their fearless commitment and hard work, the entire staff built a shield of production for the company. This is precisely the spirit of ownership that defines Huatai employees - “facing challenges head-on and daring to take responsibility.”

The snow may be relentless, but Huatai was full of compassion. Upon arriving at work, everyone immediately got down to business, actively tackling various tasks, and the Anshan Design & Research Institute operated in an orderly manner. It was precisely everyone’s hard work that had ensured the smooth flow of work between the Beijing headquarters and the various project departments. In this strong corporate culture, everyone was eager to contribute and willing to take the lead in facing challenges, ensuring the smooth progress of the projects. Such a busy workload would not be possible without logistical support. Since the lunch vendor was unable to deliver, the Administration Department stepped in to coordinate and ensure that everyone received their meals.

Every drop of sweat and every effort made by our employees serve as the driving force propelling our company forward and represents a valuable asset to our organization. We firmly believe that “there are no problems that cannot be solved, no difficulties that cannot be overcome, and no tasks that cannot be accomplished.”

We pay tribute to all the remarkable Huatai employees who remained steadfast at their posts despite the blizzard!