Meng Kunyu garnered widespread acclaim as the most handsome traffic police officer in Beijing after a video recording of him on the job was uploaded to the Internet.

His extreme patience in pointing directions won him countless fans, nearly overnight. Netizens observed him telling 11 people various directions in the course of only two minutes.

For eight years Meng has served as a traffic police officer at the busy Hepingmen intersection. There he not only smooths the traffic flow but is on call for potentially lifesaving operations by carrying medicines on duty all the time.

A 30-minute CCTV news program featured him in a nearly three-minute segment that the station dubbed "giving is handsome".

Meng, 29, shared his special commitment to what would appear to be a routine job.

METRO: People have named you the most handsome traffic policeman in Beijing. Do you think you are handsome?

Meng: I think handsome has two meanings. One simply means appearance. Frankly speaking, I don't think I'm a good-looking man. The other meaning comes from my attitude and service at work. I believe that if you treat people respectfully, people will understand you and support you as well. The title people gave me is a reward for my work.

METRO: You are a star traffic police officer now. Have you ever thought that you could win over so many fans as a police officer?

Meng: Nope. Traffic police work is a very laborious job. Ordinary people seldom understand the difficulties in it. We work in the open air every day. In summer when the outdoor temperatures reach 36 degrees Celsius, the temperature of the ground surface can reach 60 or even 70 degrees Celsius. Though I wear shoes, it still burns my feet. And it is so cold outside in winter, I can barely feel my feet.

METRO: What's your daily work like?

Meng: Basically, I work from 7 to 10 am and 4 to 7 pm. But on special occasions, like when the weather is bad, we need to work longer. So we seldom have time to go home. Like every traffic police officer, I live in our team's dormitory on workdays. Over the past eight years, I have spent more time at work than at home.

METRO: How many times have you been able to spend Spring Festival with your parents over your career as an officer?

Meng: Two years. It is very busy being a traffic policeman. The entire force is needed during Spring Festival. And it is not just during Spring Festival; we need to be on duty for every big holiday and big events. When the 2008 Olympic Games took place, I didn't find time to go home in 120 days. I couldn't even look after my parents when they were hospitalized during the Olympics.

METRO: Is it true that traffic police officers return to their postings voluntarily whenever rain or snow arrives?

Meng: Yes, that's true. It is an old tradition. We stand in the middle of a road in all the bad weather to help smooth traffic. For example, heavy showers in summer reduce visibility a lot. Plus, we need to push many cars. Drivers will feel confident once they see us. They know we can help them avoid traffic jams during bad weather.

METRO: In your opinion, how does one become an excellent traffic police officer?

Meng: Treat your job as a career. Some people work only because they want to earn money and make a living. But when I am on duty, I find value in my work. Society needs traffic police. I always feel I am needed, especially when people turn to me for help. Their sincere thanks touch me so much every time. They are the reason I keep working so hard.

METRO: Some people say the traffic police and drivers are enemies. What do you think about that?

Meng: Drivers often get nervous when they see us raise our hands in salute. They know it is a sign that they have gotten into trouble and will probably get fined. So I always smile at first. A smile can really get people closer and it is the basis of good communication. To be honest, I don't want to fine drivers. And what I hate most are traffic accidents. It hurts me so much when I see people get injured. So I always inform drivers about the serious consequences they may face after fining them.