Inspiring tale of Yin Yuzhen and American youth: Planting a greener Earth together

Yin Yuzhen. [Photo/Inner Mongolia Daily]

The Mu Us Sandy Land, one of the four largest areas of its kind in China, was once barren and desolate. Now it has become a lush green expanse, a testament to people's indomitable spirit and the relentless battle against desertification.

At the heart of this unforgiving desert lies the home of Yin Yuzhen.

"Endless sand without a hint of green. Not a soul in sight. The house was so small that it felt crowded with just two people, and there was nothing to eat or drink," recalls Yin of her early days, 39 years ago, when she moved from her hometown in Jingbian county, Shaanxi province, to Sala Wusu village in Ordos, a city in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Since then, Yin has continued to plant trees in the sandy land and inspired more people to help turn the land green.

In 2014, during the 29th year of Yin's reforestation efforts, her story was featured in a documentary at a pizza restaurant in Harbin, China, which caught the eye of Yin Yifan, whose real name is Donald Ashton Jones, an American youth from Florida, the US.

The scenes of endless yellow sand, Yin carrying saplings, and the transformed green desert deeply moved and inspired Ashton. "I want to learn from her, change myself, and change the planet!" This thought took root in his mind, persistent and unwavering.

Donald Ashton Jones plants trees in Mu Us Sandy Land. [Photo/Inner Mongolia Daily]

In 2015, Ashton packed his bags and traveled to the Mu Us Sandy in Ordos to learn about tree planting from Yin.

In 2017, Ashton brought his wife to the sandy land as well. "I wanted her to understand why I love this place. Although Yin Yuzhen and I come from different countries, we live on the same planet, under the same sun. We both love nature and the Earth. We share a common goal: to make the Earth a better place."

Over the next decade, Ashton made numerous trips to the Mu Us Sandy Land during planting seasons to help Yin plant trees. To date, he has planted over 2,000 trees there.

"I felt incredibly proud to have inspired a young American to travel thousands of miles to plant trees and raise awareness about the importance of protecting the Earth. It made me feel that all my hard work was worthwhile," said Yin.

Her tireless efforts have transformed 70,000 mu (4,666.67 hectares) of sandy land into a green oasis, improving the local environment, altering the climate, and enriching the soil.

"The fierce winds that once roared louder than tractors and the suffocating sandstorms have vanished. Cherries and peaches now thrive, and organic millet sells for 90 yuan ($12.33) per kg." Yin exclaimed.

So far, 75 percent of the Mu Us Sandy Land within Inner Mongolia has been rehabilitated. Yin's 70,000-mu forest is part of China's largest ecological forestry project, the "Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program," contributing to the nation's vast green wall.

The lush forests in Mu Us Sandy Land. [Photo/Inner Mongolia Daily]