More than 100,000 people have traveled to this small town on the edge of the desert for a single purpose: To plant a tree.

Behind that journey is a story that spans generations. From Shi Shuzhu to Jiang Liling to Zhong Lin, they have devoted their lives to holding back the sands, one sapling at a time. Their determination transformed a fight against desertification into a movement that inspired people from across the country. But how did their stories motivate so many strangers to come here—and become part of the effort themselves? Let's find out more.