Villager's 50 years of soil toil turns desert into green oasis

Raised in the arid expanse of the desert in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region's Otog Front Banner, Ulziidelger's deep-rooted longing for lush greenery has woven itself into the essence of his existence. This sentiment has blossomed into his over five decades of resolute dedication to afforest his home area.

The 71-year-old's journey toward greening his hometown has not merely been a personal endeavor, but a testament to the power of collective action and unwavering determination.

Ulziidelger's family, who are from the Mongolian ethnic group, has a tradition of tree planting that dates back to the 1960s. In 1962, when his family moved away from his grandparents into a self-built humble dwelling, one of the first things his mother did was to ask for two willow saplings from a neighbor and plant them in front of the house.

"During that time, my family's economic situation was unfavorable. My mother's words have remained etched in my memory, 'A house truly becomes a home when a tree is planted in front of it,'" he said.