Young Volunteers Fight Desertification in China's Remote Minqin County
Tens of thousands of young volunteers have travelled to Minqin County this spring to plant trees in a mass effort against desertification. The remote area Minqin County sits in the northeast of the Hexi Corridor, squeezed between the Tengger and Badain Jaran deserts. With a permanent population of just 170,000, the region has long battled encroaching dunes and harsh conditions.
This year, nearly 80% of the volunteers were aged between 20 and 35. Many described the tree-planting work as physically demanding but deeply rewarding. Some spoke of a newfound sense of strength and happiness while digging in the arid soil. Their posts on social media quickly drew wider attention to the campaign. One commenter compared the effort to a modern-day Long March, calling it 'the Long March of a new generation'. The phrase spread online, further boosting interest in the project.
The influx of young volunteers has put Minqin County in the spotlight. Their work adds to ongoing efforts to stabilise the land and curb desert expansion. The campaign’s visibility on social media suggests growing public engagement with environmental challenges in the region.
