From China’s arid Gansu Corridor comes the story of a rural county welcoming thousands of big city volunteers after a viral call for help.
Minqin County is on the front line of China’s struggle against desertification, but it recently received a helping hand thanks to a social media campaign “Plant a Tree in Minqin.”
It has led to a staggering 30,000 people traveling to the remote area on their own dime to help the area protect farming areas and water sources with new plants.
English speakers have the English-version of the Chinese outlet The Paper to thank for this frontier reporting on the area which has combatted desertification since 1950 with mass tree and shrub planting campaigns.
The area relies on hardy crops like corn, onions, and melons, and uses sauxal, white thorn, and other desert plants to help green peripheral areas and water sources.
A local named Zhong Jin launched the Plant a Tree in Minqin initiative in 2024 who, according to the The Paper, had returned to his home there after graduating university in 2020 with a specialty in desert control.
His call for help using short video sharing platforms caught fire when Minqin became the set for a Chinese reality TV program called Become a Farmer. 10 urban youth were selected to cultivate 450 acres over 190 days, and the show was a hit.
The county’s public welfare center sought to capitalize on the publicity by opening a volunteer registration portal on its website—to let real people experience what went on in the show.
Between February and May, 30,000 people volunteered, made up of college and university age youth, parents looking to teach their children about farming and its challenges, and of course, fans of Become a Farmer.
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Volunteers told the outlet that the sandstorms, rugged terrain, relentless sun, and cramped volunteer dormitories have proven a challenge, but also that they’ve brought out a spirit of frontier camaraderie as the pit-digging and tree-planting wears everyone out equally.
Local entrepreneurs have taken advantage to send the volunteers home with an experience they’ll never forget.
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“A number of curated travel routes have also been launched, guiding visitors through tree-planting sites and major scenic areas, where cultural performances and live-action exhibitions showcase Minqin’s landscapes and heritage,” The Paper wrote.
The Plant a Tree in Minqin campaign aims to project vital areas for irrigation and agriculture with 1 million trees.
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