A gyrocopter unit patrols the Gobi Desert area in Northwest China's Gansu province. [Photos by Gu Jiawen for chinadaily.com.cn]

For the last four years, a border police gyrocopter unit has played a critical role in patrolling the vast Gobi Desert in Northwest China's Gansu province.

Established in July 2020, the nicknamed "Flying Police" team, stationed in the Mazong Mountain border zone in Jiuquan city, is China's first border police gyrocopter unit. The team consists of seven officers with an average age under 30.

The border zone spans 26,000 square kilometers of mostly Gobi Desert terrain, which makes ground patrols challenging. Gyrocopters can carry up to three people and reach speeds over 180 kilometers per hour. With a range of 700 km and endurance of 5 hours for one flight, their patrol time is 70 percent shorter than that of ground operations.

Gyrocopters are more agile and efficient than helicopters, which can be complex to operate and difficult to maintain, making them an ideal choice for the border police.