21/04/2025
At 67, Yi Jiefang from Shanghai did something extraordinary. After losing her only son in a car accident while he was studying in Japan, she was devastated. But then she remembered his final wish — to plant a forest in the deserts of northern China to fight desertification.
So, she made a decision that changed everything.
She sold her home, used her son's insurance money, and started a non-profit called Green Life. Alongside her husband, she moved to the harsh Alxa Desert and began planting trees — not for a day or a month, but for 12 straight years.
With the help of over 50,000 volunteers, Yi led the effort to plant over 2 million trees, transforming 8.7 square kilometers of dry desert into a living, breathing forest. Her work didn’t just change the land — it became a place of healing. Grieving families now gather there, planting trees in memory of their own lost loved ones.
Some say she planted the equivalent of 46 trees every hour, 10 hours a day, non-stop for 12 years. While symbolic, it reflects her determination and heart.
Yi Jiefang didn’t just honor her son’s dream — she created a legacy of love, growth, and hope. 🌱
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