Yin Yuzhen passes the torch of the Beijing Olympic Games in the city of Ordos in 2008. [CCTV.com]
Yin Yuzhen, a female farmer in the Ordos Desert in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, has devoted herself to reversing desertification for over 30 years.
Yin was previously awarded the title of March 8th Red-Banner Pacesetter and won the National Greening Medal related to tree planting.
Yin moved to Henan County, near Ordos, from her hometown at the age of 19 after she got married. She decided to turn the local desert into oasis since then.
With the support and help of her husband, in 1986, she bought 600 saplings with all of the money they had earned. Only 10 survived as frost and drought struck.
Despite many difficulties, she did not give up. Some 30 years later, she planted over 2 million trees; built three highways over 40 kilometers; erected over 50,000 acres of sand-screening barriers; dug 12 wells; developed over 500 acres of irrigated land; and, fed over 400 sheep and 30 cows.
Finally, a vast stretch of desolate desert has become a lush oasis. Thanks to this success, she began to lead other locals to devote themselves to reversing desertification and becoming prosperous.
Yin also intends to combine modern agriculture with tourism. She invested over 40 million yuan, both through self-financing and higher officials' support. This was to start the construction of a desert ecosystem pilot scheme that integrates catering, accommodation, recreation, sports, fitness, and desertification education.
Today, Yin Yuzhen has built 1,000 square meters of ecological restaurants and over 400 square meters of two-story office buildings in the "eco park." It is expected to be put into use by the end of September.
"I don't pursue the bubble reputation, even though I've become famous. I just hope more people can join the group of anti-desertification and learn from the experience of sand control," Yin concluded.
Yin Yuzhen travels accross dunes to plant trees. [CCTV.com]
Yin Yuzhen plants trees in the snow. [CCTV.com]
Yin Yuzhen and her husband discuss agriculture. [CCTV.com]
