Worker in Maowusu sandy area guards green for shared dream

Yin Yuzhen walks on her way to patrol the forest in Salawusu Village, Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 20, 2026. In recent days, Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker in Maowusu, the fourth-largest sandy area in China, has drawn widespread attention after posting a video online in search of a U.S. friend, hoping to show him the forest that he'd helped create.

Yin's friend, Ronald Sakolsky, taught at a school in Luoyang in 1999. After watching the sand-control story of Yin on television, Sakolsky was so moved and decided to donate 5,000 U.S. dollars to her cause and travel to meet her in the sandy area.

Since Yin planted the first sapling in 1986, over 70,000 mu (about 4,667 hectares) of sandy land in Maowusu has been dressed in green.

"I will do my job well and guard the green forest for our shared dream and a better planet," said Yin. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

This file photo taken in 2000 shows Yin Yuzhen (L) and Ronald Sakolsky posing for a photo in Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. In recent days, Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker in Maowusu, the fourth-largest sandy area in China, has drawn widespread attention after posting a video online in search of a U.S. friend, hoping to show him the forest that he'd helped create.

Yin's friend, Ronald Sakolsky, taught at a school in Luoyang in 1999. After watching the sand-control story of Yin on television, Sakolsky was so moved and decided to donate 5,000 U.S. dollars to her cause and travel to meet her in the sandy area.

Since Yin planted the first sapling in 1986, over 70,000 mu (about 4,667 hectares) of sandy land in Maowusu has been dressed in green.

"I will do my job well and guard the green forest for our shared dream and a better planet," said Yin. (Xinhua)

Yin Yuzhen is pictured in Salawusu Village, Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 20, 2026. In recent days, Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker in Maowusu, the fourth-largest sandy area in China, has drawn widespread attention after posting a video online in search of a U.S. friend, hoping to show him the forest that he'd helped create.

Yin's friend, Ronald Sakolsky, taught at a school in Luoyang in 1999. After watching the sand-control story of Yin on television, Sakolsky was so moved and decided to donate 5,000 U.S. dollars to her cause and travel to meet her in the sandy area.

Since Yin planted the first sapling in 1986, over 70,000 mu (about 4,667 hectares) of sandy land in Maowusu has been dressed in green.

"I will do my job well and guard the green forest for our shared dream and a better planet," said Yin. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

Yin Yuzhen cares a sapling in Salawusu Village, Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 20, 2026. In recent days, Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker in Maowusu, the fourth-largest sandy area in China, has drawn widespread attention after posting a video online in search of a U.S. friend, hoping to show him the forest that he'd helped create.

Yin's friend, Ronald Sakolsky, taught at a school in Luoyang in 1999. After watching the sand-control story of Yin on television, Sakolsky was so moved and decided to donate 5,000 U.S. dollars to her cause and travel to meet her in the sandy area.

Since Yin planted the first sapling in 1986, over 70,000 mu (about 4,667 hectares) of sandy land in Maowusu has been dressed in green.

"I will do my job well and guard the green forest for our shared dream and a better planet," said Yin. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

A drone photo taken on May 20, 2026 shows a view of the Maowusu sandy area, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. In recent days, Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker in Maowusu, the fourth-largest sandy area in China, has drawn widespread attention after posting a video online in search of a U.S. friend, hoping to show him the forest that he'd helped create.

Yin's friend, Ronald Sakolsky, taught at a school in Luoyang in 1999. After watching the sand-control story of Yin on television, Sakolsky was so moved and decided to donate 5,000 U.S. dollars to her cause and travel to meet her in the sandy area.

Since Yin planted the first sapling in 1986, over 70,000 mu (about 4,667 hectares) of sandy land in Maowusu has been dressed in green.

"I will do my job well and guard the green forest for our shared dream and a better planet," said Yin. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

Yin Yuzhen patrols at the sandy area in Salawusu Village, Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 20, 2026. In recent days, Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker in Maowusu, the fourth-largest sandy area in China, has drawn widespread attention after posting a video online in search of a U.S. friend, hoping to show him the forest that he'd helped create.

Yin's friend, Ronald Sakolsky, taught at a school in Luoyang in 1999. After watching the sand-control story of Yin on television, Sakolsky was so moved and decided to donate 5,000 U.S. dollars to her cause and travel to meet her in the sandy area.

Since Yin planted the first sapling in 1986, over 70,000 mu (about 4,667 hectares) of sandy land in Maowusu has been dressed in green.

"I will do my job well and guard the green forest for our shared dream and a better planet," said Yin. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

Yin Yuzhen checks the roots of a sapling in Salawusu Village, Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 20, 2026. In recent days, Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker in Maowusu, the fourth-largest sandy area in China, has drawn widespread attention after posting a video online in search of a U.S. friend, hoping to show him the forest that he'd helped create.

Yin's friend, Ronald Sakolsky, taught at a school in Luoyang in 1999. After watching the sand-control story of Yin on television, Sakolsky was so moved and decided to donate 5,000 U.S. dollars to her cause and travel to meet her in the sandy area.

Since Yin planted the first sapling in 1986, over 70,000 mu (about 4,667 hectares) of sandy land in Maowusu has been dressed in green.

"I will do my job well and guard the green forest for our shared dream and a better planet," said Yin. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

Yin Yuzhen patrols the forest in Salawusu Village, Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 20, 2026. In recent days, Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker in Maowusu, the fourth-largest sandy area in China, has drawn widespread attention after posting a video online in search of a U.S. friend, hoping to show him the forest that he'd helped create.

Yin's friend, Ronald Sakolsky, taught at a school in Luoyang in 1999. After watching the sand-control story of Yin on television, Sakolsky was so moved and decided to donate 5,000 U.S. dollars to her cause and travel to meet her in the sandy area.

Since Yin planted the first sapling in 1986, over 70,000 mu (about 4,667 hectares) of sandy land in Maowusu has been dressed in green.

"I will do my job well and guard the green forest for our shared dream and a better planet," said Yin. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

This file photo taken in 2000 shows Yin Yuzhen and her family walking on their way to plant and water trees in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. In recent days, Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker in Maowusu, the fourth-largest sandy area in China, has drawn widespread attention after posting a video online in search of a U.S. friend, hoping to show him the forest that he'd helped create.

Yin's friend, Ronald Sakolsky, taught at a school in Luoyang in 1999. After watching the sand-control story of Yin on television, Sakolsky was so moved and decided to donate 5,000 U.S. dollars to her cause and travel to meet her in the sandy area.

Since Yin planted the first sapling in 1986, over 70,000 mu (about 4,667 hectares) of sandy land in Maowusu has been dressed in green.

"I will do my job well and guard the green forest for our shared dream and a better planet," said Yin. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Yin Yuzhen checks trees on her way of patrolling in Salawusu Village, Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 20, 2026. In recent days, Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker in Maowusu, the fourth-largest sandy area in China, has drawn widespread attention after posting a video online in search of a U.S. friend, hoping to show him the forest that he'd helped create.

Yin's friend, Ronald Sakolsky, taught at a school in Luoyang in 1999. After watching the sand-control story of Yin on television, Sakolsky was so moved and decided to donate 5,000 U.S. dollars to her cause and travel to meet her in the sandy area.

Since Yin planted the first sapling in 1986, over 70,000 mu (about 4,667 hectares) of sandy land in Maowusu has been dressed in green.

"I will do my job well and guard the green forest for our shared dream and a better planet," said Yin. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

This file photo taken in 2000 shows Yin Yuzhen (R) and Ronald Sakolsky meeting in Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. In recent days, Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker in Maowusu, the fourth-largest sandy area in China, has drawn widespread attention after posting a video online in search of a U.S. friend, hoping to show him the forest that he'd helped create.

Yin's friend, Ronald Sakolsky, taught at a school in Luoyang in 1999. After watching the sand-control story of Yin on television, Sakolsky was so moved and decided to donate 5,000 U.S. dollars to her cause and travel to meet her in the sandy area.

Since Yin planted the first sapling in 1986, over 70,000 mu (about 4,667 hectares) of sandy land in Maowusu has been dressed in green.

"I will do my job well and guard the green forest for our shared dream and a better planet," said Yin. (Xinhua)

This video clip taken on May 18, 2026 shows Yin Yuzhen talking with Ronald Sakolsky on a smart phone in Salawusu Village, Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. In recent days, Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker in Maowusu, the fourth-largest sandy area in China, has drawn widespread attention after posting a video online in search of a U.S. friend, hoping to show him the forest that he'd helped create.

Yin's friend, Ronald Sakolsky, taught at a school in Luoyang in 1999. After watching the sand-control story of Yin on television, Sakolsky was so moved and decided to donate 5,000 U.S. dollars to her cause and travel to meet her in the sandy area.

Since Yin planted the first sapling in 1986, over 70,000 mu (about 4,667 hectares) of sandy land in Maowusu has been dressed in green.

"I will do my job well and guard the green forest for our shared dream and a better planet," said Yin. (Xinhua)