In 2000, this Chinese veteran, after losing both of his legs, started planting trees. Over the years, he has planted 17,000 trees, turning a mountain into a forest. Here’s what he has accomplished in 24 years.
When I was a child, my grandfather often told me stories about heroes — not the ones from books, but real ones, who do incredible things without expecting anything in return.
One of the stories that made a deep impression on me is the story of Ma Sanxiao, a 70-year-old man with extraordinary determination.
Ma Sanxiao, from Mayu, a village in China, began his remarkable journey in 2000. After losing his legs, he decided to plant trees to support his family. What initially started out of necessity became his life’s mission.
The region, located near the Taihang Mountains, suffered from mass deforestation, threatening to turn it into a desert. But Ma didn’t give up. Over the years, he planted 17,000 trees, helping to restore the region’s ecosystem and prevent an environmental disaster.
Every morning at 5 a.m., he gets into his tuk-tuk, drives to the affected areas, removes his prosthetics, and crawls to plant trees. It’s grueling work; he has suffered many injuries, but he never gave up.
In 2008, the government recognized his efforts and provided financial support. But for Ma, money isn’t the main thing. He simply wants to give back to society what was lost, and he feels safe among the trees he planted, as if they are a part of him.
