The ninth Desert Tree Planting Service Camp was held in Dingbian County of Yulin, Shaanxi, on August 1 to 4, 2017. It was attended by YMCA workers and volunteers from Hong Kong, Macao, Taichung, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Dingbian, and Xi'an, according to Xi'an YMCA.
Proposed by the YMCAs of Hong Kong and of Xi'an in 2009, the camp initiative was to establish an evergreen forest covering 1,000 mu (164.7 acres) in a local desert and a mountainous area.
A total of 750 Mongolian Scotch pine saplings covering 13.5 mu of the sands and barren mountainous area were planted on the first two days. The participants visited the local tourist attractions and oil production bases on the third day.
On August 4, they stepped on a journey across the Tengger Desert, the fourth largest desert in China. It was said that the trip was to develop the self-confidence, teamwork spirit, and young leadership characters of the campers. Apart from camping in the desert and a bonfire, the campers finally achieved the goal of a 45 kilometer (27.9 miles) long hike.
- Translated by Karen Luo
