Constant gardeners

Year after year, the couple returned to the village in March and spent seven months planting trees. In October, when it became too cold, they returned to the house in Tongliao.

"Growing trees on the sand dunes is not easier than raising children, which requires lots of care and attention," Gerel said.

In the first decade of planting they watered the trees themselves, but after that, rainfall was enough to take care of them.

Even after Undes died in 2011, Gerel did not give up on her mission and continued planting with the help of her daughter and other family members.

After 20 years of hard work and more than 300,000 yuan ($44,400) of investment, greenery now covers around 17 hectares of what was once sandy land. The fields of green include more than 200,000 poplars, elms and fruit-bearing trees that have formed windbreaks.

In accordance with the agreement, Gerel returned what is now a park to the village last year and went home to Tongliao.

Her achievement has inspired other villagers to join the cause to green barren areas. After two decades of effort, the village once again resembles the beautiful verdant landscape of Gerel's childhood.