Before Sandstorm

• Watchlist

In the southern edge of the Tengger Desert in northwest China, 62-year-old Lao Nian and 57-year-old Lao Zhu work here. They are planting trees in the desert. Sprinkling grass, pressing down grass, digging sand, planting seedlings... This method, invented by themselves, has an astonishing survival rate of up to 85% in some areas. For decades of unremitting efforts, the number of sandstorms in northern China has significantly decreased. Working from dawn to dusk every day, Lao Zhu says, "They are doing it for nature, while we are just trying to earn some money." In the spring tree-planting season of 2023, we spent more than ten days with them. From morning till night, listening to their chats, watching them banter with each other..