Ronald Sakolsky interacts with Yin Yuzhen's grandchildren after he arrives at her home in Salawusu Village, Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 24, 2026. Retired U.S. teacher Ronald Sakolsky, who once supported China's desertification control efforts, arrived in Ordos on Sunday and was reunited with his friend Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker who has been planting trees in the Maowusu Sandy Land for four decades. He then visited her home on Monday.
Their story began in 1999, when Sakolsky taught English at a school in central China's Henan Province under a teachers' exchange program between the two countries.
After watching a television news report featuring Yin's tireless work, he was deeply moved and raised 5,000 U.S. dollars to help Yin and her husband in their afforestation efforts against desertification.
The saplings bought and planted with that donation have since grown into a forest of more than 50,000 towering trees. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
Yin Yuzhen (2nd L, front) invites Ronald Sakolsky (1st L, front) to her home in Salawusu Village, Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 24, 2026. Retired U.S. teacher Ronald Sakolsky, who once supported China's desertification control efforts, arrived in Ordos on Sunday and was reunited with his friend Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker who has been planting trees in the Maowusu Sandy Land for four decades. He then visited her home on Monday.
Their story began in 1999, when Sakolsky taught English at a school in central China's Henan Province under a teachers' exchange program between the two countries.
After watching a television news report featuring Yin's tireless work, he was deeply moved and raised 5,000 U.S. dollars to help Yin and her husband in their afforestation efforts against desertification.
The saplings bought and planted with that donation have since grown into a forest of more than 50,000 towering trees. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
Ronald Sakolsky greets Yin Yuzhen's family while arriving at Yin's home in Salawusu Village, Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 24, 2026. Retired U.S. teacher Ronald Sakolsky, who once supported China's desertification control efforts, arrived in Ordos on Sunday and was reunited with his friend Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker who has been planting trees in the Maowusu Sandy Land for four decades. He then visited her home on Monday.
Their story began in 1999, when Sakolsky taught English at a school in central China's Henan Province under a teachers' exchange program between the two countries.
After watching a television news report featuring Yin's tireless work, he was deeply moved and raised 5,000 U.S. dollars to help Yin and her husband in their afforestation efforts against desertification.
The saplings bought and planted with that donation have since grown into a forest of more than 50,000 towering trees. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
Yin Yuzhen (L, front) and Ronald Sakolsky (R, front) come back to Yin's home in Salawusu Village, Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 24, 2026. Retired U.S. teacher Ronald Sakolsky, who once supported China's desertification control efforts, arrived in Ordos on Sunday and was reunited with his friend Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker who has been planting trees in the Maowusu Sandy Land for four decades. He then visited her home on Monday.
Their story began in 1999, when Sakolsky taught English at a school in central China's Henan Province under a teachers' exchange program between the two countries.
After watching a television news report featuring Yin's tireless work, he was deeply moved and raised 5,000 U.S. dollars to help Yin and her husband in their afforestation efforts against desertification.
The saplings bought and planted with that donation have since grown into a forest of more than 50,000 towering trees. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)
Yin Yuzhen introduces agricultural products to Ronald Sakolsky (R, front) after he arrives at her home in Salawusu Village, Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 24, 2026. Retired U.S. teacher Ronald Sakolsky, who once supported China's desertification control efforts, arrived in Ordos on Sunday and was reunited with his friend Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker who has been planting trees in the Maowusu Sandy Land for four decades. He then visited her home on Monday.
Their story began in 1999, when Sakolsky taught English at a school in central China's Henan Province under a teachers' exchange program between the two countries.
After watching a television news report featuring Yin's tireless work, he was deeply moved and raised 5,000 U.S. dollars to help Yin and her husband in their afforestation efforts against desertification.
The saplings bought and planted with that donation have since grown into a forest of more than 50,000 towering trees. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
This photo taken on Aug. 24, 2026 shows a file photo of Yin Yuzhen with Ronald Sakolsky, and a flower wreath to be presented to him, at Yin's home in Salawusu Village, Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Retired U.S. teacher Ronald Sakolsky, who once supported China's desertification control efforts, arrived in Ordos on Sunday and was reunited with his friend Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker who has been planting trees in the Maowusu Sandy Land for four decades. He then visited her home on Monday.
Their story began in 1999, when Sakolsky taught English at a school in central China's Henan Province under a teachers' exchange program between the two countries.
After watching a television news report featuring Yin's tireless work, he was deeply moved and raised 5,000 U.S. dollars to help Yin and her husband in their afforestation efforts against desertification.
The saplings bought and planted with that donation have since grown into a forest of more than 50,000 towering trees. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)
Ronald Sakolsky takes photos while arriving at Yin Yuzhen's home in Salawusu Village, Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 24, 2026. Retired U.S. teacher Ronald Sakolsky, who once supported China's desertification control efforts, arrived in Ordos on Sunday and was reunited with his friend Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker who has been planting trees in the Maowusu Sandy Land for four decades. He then visited her home on Monday.
Their story began in 1999, when Sakolsky taught English at a school in central China's Henan Province under a teachers' exchange program between the two countries.
After watching a television news report featuring Yin's tireless work, he was deeply moved and raised 5,000 U.S. dollars to help Yin and her husband in their afforestation efforts against desertification.
The saplings bought and planted with that donation have since grown into a forest of more than 50,000 towering trees. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
Ronald Sakolsky (C) visits Yin Yuzhen's home in Salawusu Village, Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 24, 2026. Retired U.S. teacher Ronald Sakolsky, who once supported China's desertification control efforts, arrived in Ordos on Sunday and was reunited with his friend Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker who has been planting trees in the Maowusu Sandy Land for four decades. He then visited her home on Monday.
Their story began in 1999, when Sakolsky taught English at a school in central China's Henan Province under a teachers' exchange program between the two countries.
After watching a television news report featuring Yin's tireless work, he was deeply moved and raised 5,000 U.S. dollars to help Yin and her husband in their afforestation efforts against desertification.
The saplings bought and planted with that donation have since grown into a forest of more than 50,000 towering trees. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
Yin Yuzhen's grandson Bai Yunhe presents a flower wreath to Ronald Sakolsky after Sakolsky arrives at Yin's home in Salawusu Village, Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 24, 2026. Retired U.S. teacher Ronald Sakolsky, who once supported China's desertification control efforts, arrived in Ordos on Sunday and was reunited with his friend Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker who has been planting trees in the Maowusu Sandy Land for four decades. He then visited her home on Monday.
Their story began in 1999, when Sakolsky taught English at a school in central China's Henan Province under a teachers' exchange program between the two countries.
After watching a television news report featuring Yin's tireless work, he was deeply moved and raised 5,000 U.S. dollars to help Yin and her husband in their afforestation efforts against desertification.
The saplings bought and planted with that donation have since grown into a forest of more than 50,000 towering trees. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
Yin Yuzhen introduces agricultural products to Ronald Sakolsky after he arrives at her home in Salawusu Village, Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 24, 2026. Retired U.S. teacher Ronald Sakolsky, who once supported China's desertification control efforts, arrived in Ordos on Sunday and was reunited with his friend Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker who has been planting trees in the Maowusu Sandy Land for four decades. He then visited her home on Monday.
Their story began in 1999, when Sakolsky taught English at a school in central China's Henan Province under a teachers' exchange program between the two countries.
After watching a television news report featuring Yin's tireless work, he was deeply moved and raised 5,000 U.S. dollars to help Yin and her husband in their afforestation efforts against desertification.
The saplings bought and planted with that donation have since grown into a forest of more than 50,000 towering trees. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
Ronald Sakolsky (C) watches footage of past desertification control efforts at Yin Yuzhen's home in Salawusu Village, Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 24, 2026. Retired U.S. teacher Ronald Sakolsky, who once supported China's desertification control efforts, arrived in Ordos on Sunday and was reunited with his friend Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker who has been planting trees in the Maowusu Sandy Land for four decades. He then visited her home on Monday.
Their story began in 1999, when Sakolsky taught English at a school in central China's Henan Province under a teachers' exchange program between the two countries.
After watching a television news report featuring Yin's tireless work, he was deeply moved and raised 5,000 U.S. dollars to help Yin and her husband in their afforestation efforts against desertification.
The saplings bought and planted with that donation have since grown into a forest of more than 50,000 towering trees. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
Ronald Sakolsky takes photos at Yin Yuzhen's home in Salawusu Village, Uxin Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 24, 2026. Retired U.S. teacher Ronald Sakolsky, who once supported China's desertification control efforts, arrived in Ordos on Sunday and was reunited with his friend Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker who has been planting trees in the Maowusu Sandy Land for four decades. He then visited her home on Monday.
Their story began in 1999, when Sakolsky taught English at a school in central China's Henan Province under a teachers' exchange program between the two countries.
After watching a television news report featuring Yin's tireless work, he was deeply moved and raised 5,000 U.S. dollars to help Yin and her husband in their afforestation efforts against desertification.
The saplings bought and planted with that donation have since grown into a forest of more than 50,000 towering trees. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
