In the early 1960s, to reduce the damage caused by sandstorms in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the state assigned the Ministry of Forestry and Hebei Province to establish a mechanized forest farm on the barren plateau of Saihanba, within Chengde, to hold back the southward spread of the Hunshandake and Horqin sandy lands. The first generation of tree planters, represented by protagonists Feng Cheng and Qin Xuemei, formed a 369-person pioneer team made up primarily of forestry graduates and forestry officials and workers from 18 provinces and cities across the country. Together with local officials and residents, they began the struggle against nature.
