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Retired US teacher Ronald Sakolsky, who donated thousands of dollars to plant trees in China, has returned home after a visit that left him deeply moved.

In an interview, he said the trip was a chance to reunite with old Chinese friends, including Yin Yuzhen, the activist who planted a forest in the Mu Us desert sands.

"The earth is alive because of Mrs. Yin Yuzhen," Sakolsky said, proud of his friend.

He also praised China's "beautiful" cities, saying the country felt as if it had already entered the 22nd century.

He was struck by the pace of development but also by how traditions remain deeply rooted in society – even as the skyline grows taller. "I've left a part of my heart in China," Sakolsky said, his voice catching.

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US teacher Sakolsky leaves 'a part of my heart' in China