For the past 60 years, the local government and residents have witnessed Youyu county in Shanxi province be transformed from a barren land into a green oasis.

Youyu county borders Inner Mongolia autonomous region, and is next to Maowusu desert. Forest coverage was less than 0.3 percent when the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949.

Foreign experts who visited Youyu county at the time stated that the area was not suitable for human habitation, and suggested local residents emigrate.

Zhang Ronghuai, secretary of the county Party committee, called on local people to plant more trees to improve the area's environment.

Ever since then, 20 secretaries of the county Party committee have encouraged the planting of trees.

Years of dedication by local officials and residents have improved the forest coverage ratio to 54 percent, converting nearly 2,000 square kilometers of barren land into green forest.

Before and after pictures of Youyu county, Shanxi province. The bottom picture shows the county as it is today. [Photo/Xinhua]

A photograph taken during the 1960s or 70s shows local residents planting trees on barren land. [Photo/Xinhua]

A car drives along a forest road in Youyu county, Shanxi province. [Photo/Xinhua]

A 71-year-old forest ranger patrols an ecological park in Youyu county. [Photo/Xinhuanet]