Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Wang Lihua) news: On February 16, 2025, Fu Guoxi, a villager from Haermodun Village, Haermodun Town in Hejing County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, checked on the poplar saplings he had planted the previous year.

Behind him, the uneven forest stretched out into the distance, forming a continuous line of about 34 kilometers. He knew that in the distance, the land still bore the mark of his father, Fu Zhizhou.

Photo taken on February 16, 2025 shows Fu Guoxi holds a poplar tree planted by his father in Haermodun Village, Haermodun Town in Hejing County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/Du Jianhui)

In early February of last year, Fu Zhizhou, known for his 41 years of battling sandstorms, passed away at the age of 81. He left behind the "green corridor" he had cultivated with his fellow villagers. Before his passing, this elder, who had planted 800,000 trees, entrusted his children with his wish, “My goal of planting one million trees is now in your hands.”

As spring returns to the earth, life continues to flourish. Fu Guoxi believes that these trees and saplings, which will soon sprout green leaves, represent the continuation of his father's life and the legacy of the "Yugong spirit (Yugong, a figure from an ancient Chinese legend who was determined to lead his family to remove the mountains that blocked their way in and out of their home, shovel by shovel)."

Photo shows Fu Zhizhou with the "Green Great Wall Medal" in 2018. (Photo offered by Fu Guoxi)

Man must not be overpowered by sand

Haermodun Village lies at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, where rows of poplar trees stand along the banks of the Shahezi River, forming a dense grid-like forest that protects thousands of mu of farmland.

"This used to be a barren desert, and it was only after the trees planted by my parents grew that we began to see a harvest," Fu Guoxi reflected. "Just as life was getting better, my parents passed away."

In 1965, at just 22, Fu Zhizhou, along with his wife Chen Ailan, committed themselves to the development of Xinjiang and made their home in Haermodun Village.

Photo taken in March 2019 shows Fu Zhizhou and his wife Chen Ailan on their way planting trees in Haermodun Town in Hejing County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Bayindalai)

The scene upon entering the village was even more desolate than Fu Zhizhou had imagined. Amidst the vast desert and Gobi, only a few isolated houses stood, one of which would later become his home. A single room, a pot, and a katman (shovel in Uygur) comprised all his possessions.

The Shahezi River is a natural waterway formed by mountain floods, flowing through Haermodun Village and four other villages. Each summer, as the mountain ice melts and rain falls, the river flows; during other seasons, it runs dry. This area is subject to strong winds, with sand encroaching on farmland and villages at a rate of two to three meters per year.

In 1983, the village allocated about 3.13 hectares of land to Fu Zhizhou's family, located at the edge of the desert by the Shahezi River. In spring, he sowed wheat seeds with great hope, watching the seedlings grow greener day by day, filling him with joy. However, a strong wind soon buried the lush wheat field under a layer of yellow sand overnight.

"Sand forcing humans to retreat; without intervention, the land will vanish, and the villagers will have to abandon their homes. In just a few years, the entire village could be engulfed by sand," the words of the villagers struck Fu Zhizhou like a hammer.

To preserve the land, tree planting became imperative.

"We cannot let the sand overpower us!" Fu Zhizhou and his wife began their efforts by the wheat fields, transporting sand, leveling the ground, digging holes, and planting trees. The saplings were sourced from cuttings found in nearby orchards. To ensure their survival, they used a donkey cart to haul soil from 10 kilometers away to fill the planting holes before placing the saplings.

Lacking experience in combating desertification, Fu Zhizhou and his wife applied the same simple methods they used for farming in their hometown in central China’s Henan, nurturing the saplings with painstaking care. Day by day, the poplar trees by the wheat fields grew taller, providing much-needed protection for the crops.

Photo taken in August 2023 shows the wind and sand control forests in the Shahezi management area of Haermodun Town in Hejing County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Gao Naqing)

However, Fu Zhizhou was not content with merely planting trees beside their wheat fields; he understood that the sands would eventually encroach further. A large-scale afforestation effort was necessary to create a forest barrier, ensuring bountiful harvests for the villagers and improving their living environment.

From that point on, Fu Zhizhou embarked on a lifelong battle against the wind and sand.

The desert awakens to life

An ox, two individuals, a cart, and a katman were a familiar sight in the desert. Every morning, Fu Zhizhou and his wife would set out, heading to the tree-planting site more than three kilometers from their home. They'd bring pickled vegetables and steamed buns for lunch, and wouldn't return until after dark.

Photo taken in April 2019 shows Fu Zhizhou and his wife Chen Ailan have lunch during a break from tree planting in Haermodun Town, Hejing County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Bayindalai)

To improve the saplings' chances of survival, Fu Zhizhou experimented with an unusual planting method. He repurposed discarded beer bottles, filled them with water and inserted cut branches, leaving a portion exposed. He then sealed the bottle necks with clay before burying them in the sand. After a time, over 500 bottles sprouted, bringing the first signs of green to the barren desert landscape.

In 2003, Hejing County introduced policies to encourage windbreaks and sand control, inspiring Fu Zhizhou to suggest a large-scale tree-planting initiative. His wife, Chen Ailan, initially objected. She knew the hardships of living in the sandy land and worried about the impact it would have on her husband's health.

Photo taken in July 2019 shows Fu Zhizhou waters saplings in Haermodun Town, Hejing County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo offered by Fu Guoxi)

Chen Ailan could not sway her husband from his course. "Planting trees while young brings blessings in old age. I am still in good health!" he said.

With the backing of his family, Fu Zhizhou felt more confident in his battle against the desert. He took out loans to purchase a bulldozer and a tractor, attempting to replace manual labor with mechanized tree planting.

Influenced by the couple, daughter-in-law He Yuyan decided to forgo a job in the county. She had been helping Fu Zhizhou and his wife with their tree planting efforts since her marriage in 1999, putting the horticulture skills she learned at vocational school to good use.

Every February, the entire Fu family would head out in search of promising poplar cuttings. They would then bring these cuttings back, chop them into smaller pieces, and carefully cultivate them into saplings. "We'd tie a sickle to a pole and look up, cutting branches from the trees," Fu Zhizhou's youngest son, Fu Wenping, recalled, "By the end of the day, my neck would be killing me."

Irrigating the forest belt each year is not an easy task. He Yuyan explained that the water channels they dug one year would be filled with windblown sand by the next. The water flows quickly, so they had to constantly dig new trenches to guide it; otherwise, it would run off and be wasted.

She remembers one day hitting her breaking point, throwing her shovel down and collapsing in tears on a sand dune. "But seeing my elderly in-laws struggling to carry saplings through the desert, I wiped my tears, brushed myself off, and kept going."

The couple's hard work was not in vain; their sweat transformed the barren landscape into a precious green oasis. Today, wildlife such as hares and foxes have made their homes in this once desolate area. These vibrant lives are the best reward for their efforts and symbolize the hope for the land's revival.

Green barrier stands against the desert

Photo taken in August 2023 shows the wind and sand control forests in the Shahezi management area of Haermodun Town in Hejing County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Gao Naqing)

Initially, some villagers dismissed Fu Zhizhou's efforts, saying, "What a fool, throwing money into the sand." However, as the monotonous desert began to show signs of greenery, these disparaging remarks dissipated like the wind.

Li Chengliang, a villager who has operated a bulldozer for Fu Zhizhou since 2004, witnessed the arduous journey of desert reclamation. Inspired by Fu, he has also planted over 2.7 hectares of poplar trees. Neighboring villager Tulhun Tulxun began tree planting in 2006 and has since cultivated more than 100 hectares of forest.

"Planting trees may not be profitable, but it is essential for protecting farmland. Without land, we lose our roots," said villager Jumahong Bast, who has planted 1.3 hectares of poplar trees.

Over 300 villagers from several surrounding villages have joined the afforestation and sand control efforts. Fu Zhizhou generously lends his bulldozer to them, saying, "As long as it's for planting trees, I will fully support it."

Through their collective efforts, a 34-kilometer-long green barrier has been established for the desertification control. Previously abandoned lands in Haermodun Village and nearby areas are now cultivated with cash crops such as chili peppers and melons, allowing villagers to experience the tangible benefits of afforestation and sand control.

"We've finally got the upper hand on the wind and sand; whatever we plant yields high returns," said villager Yun Qiming, noting that his colored chili peppers can sell for seven to eight thousand yuan per mu.

"The vegetation coverage in the Shahezi management area has increased from an initial three percent to about 70 percent, and the frequency of strong winds has significantly decreased. The arable land has expanded from over 467 hectares in 2004 to the current 867 hectares," said He Qipeng, the head of the Haermodun Village Committee.

Photo shows the "Fu Zhizhou Moral Role Model Pavilion" in Haermodun Town, Hejing County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/Du Jianhui)

In 2023, the village converted the home where Fu Zhizhou once lived into the "Fu Zhizhou Moral Role Model Pavilion." It showcases a rich collection of photographs, texts and items that vividly tell the story of Fu Zhizhou and his wife, who worked tirelessly on the edge of the desert to create a green oasis.

Photo shows a photo of Fu Zhizhou displayed on the wall of "Fu Zhizhou Moral Role Model Pavilion" in Haermodun Town, Hejing County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/Du Jianhui)

According to He Qipeng, Fu Zhizhou dedicated himself entirely to fighting desertification and planting trees to improve the lives of the villagers. He met challenges head-on, steadily pursuing his inspiring vision.

Year after year, trees have been planted, and generations have carried on the work of reforestation, transforming barren land into thriving forests.

Fu Tingrui, who grew up alongside his grandfather Fu Zhizhou, has seen the white poplar trees his grandfather planted flourish over the years. Having recently graduated from university, he said, "I'll put down roots here and continue the work of protecting our land from the wind and sand, and make our home even better."

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