Pat on the back for perseverance in Youyu
- By Mi Xingang
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E-mail China.org.cn, September 13, 2013
In the northwest of China’s Shanxi Province now lies an oasis within the loess plateau, named Youyu County. However, over 60 years ago, the sands and dry climate were raging across the arid lands and its residents lived a tough life.
Since the People’s Republic of China was founded, 19 secretaries of the Youyu County Committee of the Communist Party of China have led people to conduct forest planting like they were participating in a torch relay. During the process, they overcame countless difficulties and finally won the battle with the adverse environment.
A man-made miracle was created as the forest coverage there increased from 0.3 percent in 1949, to 53 percent in 2013.
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Forest coverage in Youyu County, Shanxi Province, has increased from 0.3 percent in 1949, to 53 percent in 2013. [Photo by Mi Xingang/China.org.cn] |
Indeed, with gravel covering most of the mountain, the strong winds and a severe lack of water, many people claimed that planting a tree and making it grow in Youyu was more difficult than raising a child.
However, people kept gathering information on sand control and forest planting. In 1956, they started planting trees on Huangshawa, a moving sand dune of 20,000 meters in length and 4,000 meters in width, and eventually managed to cover the entire dune in green eight years later.
There are countless moving stories about the leaders’ and people’s devotion to and perseverance in tree planting across Youyu County.
A young and beautiful girl from Yunnan Province, Yu Xiaolan came to Youyu with her husband in 1989. Since then, she has dedicated herself to forest planting. A total of 666 hectares of barren hill have been turned green and some 50,000 fruit trees have been planted by her over the past two decades. Yu said, “I am grateful to see the mountain become green and the painstaking efforts of the past finally paying off.”
Liu Yunshan, head of Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, paid a visit to Youyu County from July 29 to 31, 2010. After leaving the area, he wrote an article entitled “The Official Achievement Perspective of Secretaries of the Youyu County Committee of the Communist Party of China,” which was later published in People’s Daily.
In his article, Liu mentioned that the official achievements of the leaders in Youyu County had been nothing if not remarkable and admirable. These achievements of monumental significance, rather than projects for the sole purpose of vanity, will remain both on the mountain and in people’s hearts forever.
China’s President Xi Jinping also gave his views on the “Youyu Spirit” on September 28, 2012. He particularly pointed out that the “Youyu Spirit” shows efforts to wholeheartedly serve the people, overcome any difficulties or struggles, persevere and benefit future generations. The “Youyu Spirit” deserves to be learned from, he noted.
On May 23, 2010, Youyu County received the honorary title of “UN Most Livable Ecological County” for its outstanding feat of ecological construction.
Currently, the county’s ecotourism industry has been taking shape and hundreds of green villages have been established there. Tourists in the county can enjoy blue skies, picturesque sceneries and fresh air, weaved by locals over 60 years of relentless efforts.
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