Meet the inspiring man in the video below.

Video credit: People’s Daily, China

A 70-year-old Chinese veteran is inspiring people across the globe after he planted 17,000 trees in around 19 years on a mountain that was completely barren before.

Though the act is inspiring enough, what makes it even more special is the fact that he did so despite being a double-amputee with no legs.

Ma Sanxiao, from the village of Mayu in Jing County in northern China’s Hebei Province, started planting trees in the year 2000.

Now, he has raised an entire forest from scratch using just a hoe and a spade.

Ma started planting trees for earning extra income, but he now considers it a sacred duty and a means to pay back to society.

The former soldier leaves his home before sunrise at 5 am to plant trees on the hills in the Taihang Mountain Range on the western side of his village.

He also brings food so that he can spend the whole day there, the China News reported.

The veteran makes it to the mountain by riding a tuk tuk with the help of his prostheses. After reaching the place, he removes his artificial limbs and crawls on the ground by putting on thick gloves to go where he wants to plant the trees.

Nothing stops him from his tiresome routine of planting trees, which isn’t an easy task even for a young, physically fit person.

Ma has also received serious injuries many times after falling into deep crevices.

The veteran once lost a little finger, while another time, he had both his stumps crushed and had to fit iron plates in there.

His story soon spread around the country. In 2008, the Chinese government got in touch with him to provide financial support to him and his family.

From that point onward, the veteran has been planting trees ‘to pay back the society and thank the government for their help’.

Ma says he enjoys his time with the trees.

‘To me, they are not trees. I consider them as the soldiers I have commanded,’ the old man says. ‘They make me feel very fulfilled.

‘As long as I live, I shall keep planting trees for future generations.’

 

 

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