Gansu Province sits in one of Northwest China’s most fragile ecological zones and has long been a critical front in the national “Three-North Shelterbelt Program.” For more than four decades, generations of Gansu residents have fought relentlessly to push back the desert. Their determination has transformed once harsh sandstorm corridors into green ecological landscapes—creating a remarkable environmental achievement that safeguards the Yellow River.
To showcase Gansu’s progress in ecological restoration, scientific innovation and the human stories behind the “Three-North” initiative, the special series Green Gansu: The Miracle of the Three-North Shelterbelt highlights real cases, personal narratives and ecological data. Presented through a Gen-Z perspective, the program uncovers the story of Gansu’s environmental miracle and its contributions to ecological civilization.
The first episode, “The Tree-Planters’ Alliance Protecting the Minqin Desert,” aired on June 5, 2025. It follows Wanwan, a young woman from Chongqing, as she embarks on a transformative journey to Minqin to take part in desert-control efforts. Ten days of hands-on work left permanent marks on her palms—and reshaped her outlook on life. Venturing twice into the heart of the desert to plant trees, she witnessed the unwavering perseverance of those fighting desertification. Under the desert sunset and star-filled sky, she also discovered the unique beauty of this land and ultimately found her place among the “Tree-Planters’ Alliance” devoted to protecting Minqin.
