Airkir Duliki (L) tells a passenger about tourism on the Pamir Plateau on a train from Kashgar to Chengdu in China, April 19, 2024. Airkir Duliki, the 27-year-old ethnic Tajik train conductor, was born and raised amidst the snow-capped mountains and grasslands in a village of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County on the Pamir Plateau, where railways were not common for residents in the past.
Airkir's initial experience with train travel occurred when she journeyed to Urumqi for university in Xinjiang. Accompanied by her father, she traversed over 300 kilometers of mountainous terrain from their village to reach the nearest Kashgar train station.
Inspired by the first train journey, Airkir pursued a career in the railway sector after graduating from university in 2019. Since then, she has served as a train attendant on routes, linking Kashgar of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Chengdu of southwest China's Sichuan Province.
Throughout her four-years as an attendant, she has consistently demonstrated proficiency in her duties. In 2023, she successfully completed a series of assessments and transitioned into the role of conductor. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Airkir Duliki (1st R) talks with passengers on a train from Kashgar to Chengdu in China, April 19, 2024. Airkir Duliki, the 27-year-old ethnic Tajik train conductor, was born and raised amidst the snow-capped mountains and grasslands in a village of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County on the Pamir Plateau, where railways were not common for residents in the past.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Airkir Duliki (R) helps passengers board a train from Chengdu to Kashgar at a railway station in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 20, 2024. Airkir Duliki, the 27-year-old ethnic Tajik train conductor, was born and raised amidst the snow-capped mountains and grasslands in a village of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County on the Pamir Plateau, where railways were not common for residents in the past.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Airkir Duliki (L) helps her mother carry water at Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 23, 2024. Airkir Duliki, the 27-year-old ethnic Tajik train conductor, was born and raised amidst the snow-capped mountains and grasslands in a village of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County on the Pamir Plateau, where railways were not common for residents in the past.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Airkir Duliki works at a railway station in Jinchang, northwest China's Gansu Province, April 19, 2024. Airkir Duliki, the 27-year-old ethnic Tajik train conductor, was born and raised amidst the snow-capped mountains and grasslands in a village of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County on the Pamir Plateau, where railways were not common for residents in the past.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Airkir Duliki works at a railway station in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 20, 2024. Airkir Duliki, the 27-year-old ethnic Tajik train conductor, was born and raised amidst the snow-capped mountains and grasslands in a village of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County on the Pamir Plateau, where railways were not common for residents in the past.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
This combo photo shows Airkir Duliki (4th L, back) posing for a group photo with colleagues on April 22, 2024 (above), and Airkir Duliki (7th L, front) posing for a group photo with family members on March 22, 2024. Airkir Duliki, the 27-year-old ethnic Tajik train conductor, was born and raised amidst the snow-capped mountains and grasslands in a village of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County on the Pamir Plateau, where railways were not common for residents in the past.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Airkir Duliki helps herd sheep at Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 22, 2024. Airkir Duliki, the 27-year-old ethnic Tajik train conductor, was born and raised amidst the snow-capped mountains and grasslands in a village of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County on the Pamir Plateau, where railways were not common for residents in the past.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Airkir Duliki's father dances when Airkir Duliki comes back home at Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 23, 2024. Airkir Duliki, the 27-year-old ethnic Tajik train conductor, was born and raised amidst the snow-capped mountains and grasslands in a village of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County on the Pamir Plateau, where railways were not common for residents in the past.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Airkir Duliki (1st L) helps passengers board a train from Chengdu to Kashgar at a railway station in Guangyuan, southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 20, 2024. Airkir Duliki, the 27-year-old ethnic Tajik train conductor, was born and raised amidst the snow-capped mountains and grasslands in a village of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County on the Pamir Plateau, where railways were not common for residents in the past.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Airkir Duliki works at night at a railway station in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 22, 2024. Airkir Duliki, the 27-year-old ethnic Tajik train conductor, was born and raised amidst the snow-capped mountains and grasslands in a village of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County on the Pamir Plateau, where railways were not common for residents in the past.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Airkir Duliki works on a train from Kashgar to Chengdu in China, April 18, 2024. Airkir Duliki, the 27-year-old ethnic Tajik train conductor, was born and raised amidst the snow-capped mountains and grasslands in a village of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County on the Pamir Plateau, where railways were not common for residents in the past.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Airkir Duliki works at a railway station in Korla, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 18, 2024. Airkir Duliki, the 27-year-old ethnic Tajik train conductor, was born and raised amidst the snow-capped mountains and grasslands in a village of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County on the Pamir Plateau, where railways were not common for residents in the past.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Airkir Duliki (1st L, back) and her family members sing at home at Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 23, 2024. Airkir Duliki, the 27-year-old ethnic Tajik train conductor, was born and raised amidst the snow-capped mountains and grasslands in a village of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County on the Pamir Plateau, where railways were not common for residents in the past.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Airkir Duliki meets with her grandfather (L) at Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 22, 2024. Airkir Duliki, the 27-year-old ethnic Tajik train conductor, was born and raised amidst the snow-capped mountains and grasslands in a village of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County on the Pamir Plateau, where railways were not common for residents in the past.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Airkir Duliki (L) talks with a boy at Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 23, 2024. Airkir Duliki, the 27-year-old ethnic Tajik train conductor, was born and raised amidst the snow-capped mountains and grasslands in a village of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County on the Pamir Plateau, where railways were not common for residents in the past.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Airkir Duliki works on a train at a railway station in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 20, 2024. Airkir Duliki, the 27-year-old ethnic Tajik train conductor, was born and raised amidst the snow-capped mountains and grasslands in a village of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County on the Pamir Plateau, where railways were not common for residents in the past.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Airkir Duliki (C) and her parents pose for a photo at home at Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 23, 2024. Airkir Duliki, the 27-year-old ethnic Tajik train conductor, was born and raised amidst the snow-capped mountains and grasslands in a village of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County on the Pamir Plateau, where railways were not common for residents in the past.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Airkir Duliki and folk artists perform dance for passengers on a train from Kashgar to Chengdu in China, April 19, 2024. Airkir Duliki, the 27-year-old ethnic Tajik train conductor, was born and raised amidst the snow-capped mountains and grasslands in a village of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County on the Pamir Plateau, where railways were not common for residents in the past.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
An aerial photo taken on March 23, 2024 shows the village where Airkir Duliki lives at Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
