Pic story of planters in N China's Inner Mongolia

Delg patrols in the Haloxylon forest in Ejina Banner of Alxa League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Oct. 27, 2023.

Su He, dubbed a "role model of the times," was a retired cadre living near the Heicheng relic site, a well preserved ancient city on the Silk Road, in Ejina Banner. Su and her wife Delg planted a Haloxylon forest covering 3,500 mu (about 233.33 hectares) from 2004 to 2021, which still serves as an ecological shield against sandstorms to the Heicheng relic site. Delg and their son stayed to take care of and expand the Haloxylon forest after Su's passing in 2021.

Bungalows built by Su and Delg when they initially took root in the desert in 2004 still stand there, but are now flanked by trees. The Su family chose to keep composing an ode to life and green in this rarely visited area of desert. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)