Recently, the smash-hit film Amazing China, swept the whole of China. In the film, there was a scene about the story of the Chinese’s evacuation from Libya in 2011. Li Yuting, Party Secretary of the Overseas Department of China Construction Eighth Engineering Division (Tianjin Branch) and Tianjin University alumnus, who graduated in 1999, was invited to share with the students his extraordinary experience in the evacuation and his pride of being a Chinese.

Li excitedly shared his experience: “Several years have gone, but I was still excited when I saw actor Wu Jing in the movie Wolf Warriors Ⅱ holding the national flag passing the battle area in the stage photo. However, the actual the evacuation was more exciting than in the movie.”.

The Libyan evacuation was regarded as a comprehensive representation of China’s military, economic and diplomatic power. 91 Chinese civil airplanes, 35 chartered airplanes from abroad and 12 military aircraft were put to use, and 11 rented cruise liners from abroad, 5 Chinese merchant ships and 1 warship were used. During the 12-day evacuation, 35,860 Chinese people in Libya were successfully evacuated. Apart from evacuating Chinese people, the Chinese government also helped evacuate 2,100 people from 12 other countries.

Armed battles swept all over Libya on February 16, 2011. Everything was in chaos, but as the then project manager, Li thought that he had to stay clear-minded. Apart from proceeding with the engineering schedule, he took as his responsibility to calm his staff from China and other countries. “The project manager of Land No.2 called me and asked me to calm the workers, as warplanes approached,” he said. It was totally chaotic. Mercenaries were passing by the door, and fragmentary gunshots and the roar of cannon were heard without end. “I was in Land No.1, and the railway distance from Land No.1 to Land No.2 was 27 kilometers, and everybody tried to stop me from going to Land No.2, because it was too risky,” he added. But Li was determined to see the workers in Land No.2.

At around 9 p.m., February 22, 2011, Li took the car of a native driver and headed for the destination. “We were not armed. The driver just took a broadsword with him and we set off.” The journey was dangerous but they managed to reach the destination, safe and sound. “They hugged me and said that I’ve did very well, and that they felt more confident.”

On the same day, China announced that all the Chinese people were to be evacuated rapidly at all cost. An emergency headquarters of evacuation was established in the State Council that day, too. Meanwhile, two big cruise liners rented by China’s ambassadors in Greece had set off from Patras Port in Greece and headed for Benghazi Port. Thus, began the joint evacuation on land, sea and air.

Li had already received the evacuation notification from his company. Li made a decision at the crucial moment and told the workers: Those above 55 years old and women have priority to evacuate. “Actually, I was in contradiction myself, because I thought I didn’t have the right to decide the destiny of others, let alone the fact they were like my sisters and brothers. The only thing I was sure was that I had to be the last one to leave there, and I was even ready to accept the worst case, that’s to stay there alone.”

In the end, there were 50 workers who stayed and escorted Li in the evacuation. “I was not willing to leave there. After all, we have worked very hard on this project.” They had to hide their computers, safe box and cars due to the instability. “They were public treasures, so we were supposed to protect them. I always had the feeling that I’d be back here one day.” As expected, Li came back there twice in 2012 and 2013 and continued his business.

Apart from Chinese workers, there were workers from other countries, too. Li told them: “You gotta go. If you don’t leave, I’ll stay with you.”

On February 24, 2011, Li boarded one of the Greek cruise liner rented by China, together with those who were the last ones to evacuate. “It was really urgent, and everyone became agitated. I could not ignore those workers from other countries.” With that thought in mind, Li disembarked from the cruise to calm the workers.

Finally, good news came after waiting overnight concerning the non-Chinese.

With the unremitting effort of China’s Embassy in Greece and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, all of them managed to evacuate from Libya and headed for Crete, from which Li and the Chinese workers flew back to China.

“The aircraft commander said to us: ‘Welcome home. You are safe now.’ Many of us burst out crying at that moment.” The situation was still vivid in Li’s mind. “Later, I found out that it was because China mediated with many countries overnight that we were able to fly above the territories of more than 20 countries without any delay. Usually, it takes 12 hours to fly from Greece to Beijing, but it only took 9 hours to reach Beijing that day.” Li continued. “I didn’t cry even when I was in serious peril, but I did burst out crying the moment I was back in China. I felt so proud being a Chinese, and I felt that China is, without any question, a great country, and China cares about all its people.”

Hearing the exciting experience of Li, Ni Xinran, a sophomore of School of Architecture, could not help but say: “I can still remember the scene in Wolf Warriors, when Wu Jing held up the national flag. I can’t be more proud after listening to your story. What impressed me most is that you said you were willing to stay there alone, but the workers must leave. You’d shown your responsibility in letting others evacuate first and your promise that everyone, including the non-Chinese, had the right to board the cruise ship. If I were the one who experience all this, I might have been afraid, but I would not have given up, because I know my country is always by my side to protect me. China, you are amazing!”