Editor's note: As the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China nears, a total of 2,287 delegates to the event have been elected. They come from all walks of life, with a large proportion having made a special contribution in their jobs. This is the first in a series of reports focusing on the delegates' stories.

Most people have difficulty reaching an altitude of 5,000 meters. For Jampa Tashi, a delegate to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, however, he has even more to bear as a driller.

Every year, the 45-year-old from the Geological Survey of Tibet spends six to eight months above that altitude, working 12 hours a day, six days a week.