A villager picks summer squash at Gechougou Village, Shenmu County of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 29, 2020. In 2003, Zhang Yinglong resigned his work and returned to his hometown Shenmu County, which located in an isolated desert. He contracted a land of 192,000 Mu (about 12,800 hectares) and made up his mind to plant trees and control sands here. Over the 17 years, Zhang has contracted accumulated 428,000 Mu (about 28,533 hectares) of lands and developed ecological planting and livestock raising industries that can lead the local villagers to increase earnings while preserving the environment . (Xinhua/Tao Ming)
