Wang Yinji, a farmer in northwest China who has been battling desertification for 18 years, is being joined by an increasing number of people.

Wang and his family are known for battling desertification in Hongshui Village, Changcheng Township of Wuwei City, in northwest China's Gansu province.

The village was threatened by advancing sand in the last century. To defend his village, Wang and his family in 1999 moved to live in the desert. After years of efforts, he has planted 8,000 mu (533 hectares) of trees.

Wang Yinji

Wang has been so devoted to his work that he barely had time to attend to his son. In 2005, the boy fell ill, but Wang was busy pressing sand and planting trees. It was until one month later that Wang took him to hospital, only to find out that his son had advanced brain tumors.

Before passing away, the boy begged Wang to bury him in the desert so that his soul could assist him to protect the oasis.

Wang’s determination is attracting wide public attention with more people joining the battle against desertification. On June 28, over 60 volunteers from the provincial capital, Lanzhou, came to assist Wang press sand and plant more trees.