China transforms barren Saihanba into one of the world’s largest man-made forests

The once barren land of Saihanba has now become among the world’s largest man-made forests. Situated in the northernmost part of China’s Hebei province, the forest is also known as the “Green Lung of Beijing”. Located some 450km (280 miles) from the capital, and covering an area of 700 sq km (270 square miles), the afforestation project was undertaken by three generations of tree planters. The project earned praise from President Xi Jinping during a trip to the region in August 2021, when he urged the country to adopt the “Saihanba spirit” for implementing ecologically responsible development.