U.S. friend witnesses desert transformed into forest in 26-year reunion with Yin Yuzhen

On Aug. 24, Ronald Sakolsky, a retired U.S. teacher who has supported China's efforts to combat desertification in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, returned to the home of his friend Yin Yuzhen after 26 years.

Back in 1999, while teaching English in central China's Henan Province, Sakolsky was deeply moved by Yin's tireless work and raised $5,000 to help Yin and her husband combat desertification in Inner Mongolia. 

The 69-year-old will spend part of his stay planting trees alongside Yin, a national model worker who has been planting trees in the Maowusu Sandy Land for four decades. What was once a sea of yellow sand is now covered in lush green forest.