Flower bouquets surround the gravestones of the fallen soldiers, with countless notes of appreciation. "Thanks to you, we can live on a peaceful land. Salute to you and all the brave soldiers. Hope you rest in peace," reads a note.
The heroes, Chen Hongjun, Chen Xiangrong, Xiao Siyuan and Wang Zhuoran, have been buried in martyrs' cemeteries in their hometowns. They died in a clash with trespassing foreign military personnel wielding steel tubes, cudgels and stones last June. /CFP
The title of "border-defending hero" was conferred on Battalion Commander Chen Hongjun posthumously, while Chen Xiangrong, Xiao Siyuan and Wang Zhuoran received first-class merit. /CFP