On the eve of Arbor Day 2025, Wu Mengqi, a student at Weifang Institute of Science and Technology, embarked on an epic 1,500-kilometer trek to the Minqin Desert in Gansu Province. Her mission? To join a growing army of young volunteers battling desertification—one sapling at a time.
Wu’s journey began with a viral livestream by farmer collective ‘Ten Qin Tian,’ where she watched drones capture hardy Haloxylon seedlings punching through arid sands. ‘I realized even distant landscapes need protectors,’ she said. Fast-forward to March 2025: armed with shovels and determination, Wu joined scores of volunteers forming a ‘youth phalanx’ against advancing dunes.
Following intensive training, Wu perfected the art of desert gardening: planting saplings in 50cm-deep pits lined with moisture-trapping sand. Each precise motion felt like ‘a ceremony honoring life,’ she shared, as banners proclaiming ‘Today’s Responsibility Rests On Our Youth’ fluttered overhead.
‘Last year’s seedlings are now half-meter guardians,’ Wu noted, her goggles dusted but her vision clear. Her campus now buzzes with plans for an ecology club, while her institute’s ‘Volunteer Service+’ program reports staggering impact: 24,000+ activities, 500,000+ participants, and 2.6 million hours served.
As drone footage reveals new green waves rolling across once-barren dunes, Wu’s story proves that youth + purpose = unstoppable force for change. 💪🌍
