For over 40 years, Wang Zhanfeng had rooted himself in the barren mountains of Youyu county in the northern province of Shanxi. Starting from the challenging task of planting the first sapling amid swirling yellow sands, he has now transformed over 200 hectares of land into lush woodland, significantly altering the local ecosystem.

Wang, 74, a villager from Laoqiangkuang village, bears calloused hands as evidence of his decades-long dedication.

"In my childhood, we had to cover our bowls while eating, otherwise they would be filled with sand," Wang told China Daily. Villagers had to wear windproof goggles and sand masks when venturing outside. During the worst winds, they had to light lamps indoors during the day.

Youyu is situated less than 100 kilometers from the Mu Us Desert spreading between the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Shaanxi province, positioned in a natural wind corridor where the Siberian cold air moves southward.

In the early years of New China, the county faced severe environmental conditions with extensive land desertification and extremely low plant survival rates. It was once deemed by international environmental experts as one of the "least suitable areas for human habitation", prompting suggestions for the relocation of the entire county.

However, the locals were determined to make a change.