Elderly Blind Man and His Armless Friend Plant Over 10,000 Trees in China – Design You Trust

Elderly Blind Man and His Armless Friend Plant Over 10,000 Trees in China

1

Looking at the lush, green, tree-filled stretch of land north of the Yeli Village in Sunzhuang Township, Jingxing County, Hebei, China, it’s hard to imagine that just 12 years ago, those plains were filled with nothing but rocks and weeds. This miraculous transformation is all thanks to the hard work and dedication of an elderly blind man named Jia Haixia and his friend Jia Wenqi, a double amputee with no arms. For more than 10 years, the duo have been planting thousands of trees in an effort to protect and preserve the natural ecology of the land surrounding their village.

2

53-year-old Haixia was born with congenital cataracts that left his left eye blind. Then, in 2000, he lost his other eye in an accident at work, leaving him completely without sight. Wenqi, also 53, lost both his arms in an accident when he was just 3 years old. After Haixia became fully blind, the two friends were having trouble securing jobs, so they decided to lease over eight acres of land near the riverbank from the local government with the goal of planting trees for future generations. While working towards this noble objective, Haixia and Wenqi have also been able to help protect their village from flooding, while also earning a modest income from government funding.

3

Each morning, the two friends rise at 7AM and then head out for a day’s work. With little money to buy saplings from the store, they rely on taking cuttings from grown trees and planting them to create new life. After years of living and laboring side by side, the close duo have learned how to work together in order to overcome their individual disabilities. Wenqi often carries the sightless Haixia on his back across the rushing river, while Haixia climbs to the top of trees to cut off the boughs that will become new trees. After climbing back down, Haixia digs holes in the ground to plant the cuttings; it is then Wenqi’s job to take care of the growing saplings by watering them. With this unique system of teamwork, the friends estimate that they’ve planted over 10,000 trees in over a decade.

4

Haixia and Wenqi have received a tremendous amount of attention and support after news of their heroics went viral in China. According to Hebei Haoren, some generous souls have donated money to provide the elderly duo with pensions to support their lifestyles. Another article from Xinhua News Agency shares the exciting news that Haixia may be able to regain sight in his left eye thanks to an operation that a team of health care professionals are willing to perform for free. From the heartwarming story of these two friends, it seems true that no good deed goes unnoticed!

5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

If you want more awesome content, subscribe to 'Design You Trust Facebook page. You won't be disappointed.

More Inspiring Stories

US Salt Flats Speed Week
Toilets Around the World
Weather Phenomenon Causes One of the Driest Deserts to Burst into a Vibrant Flowery Field
Here Is The Most Terrifying Place On Earth
In An Old Village In Southern Bavaria, A Unique Ancient Pagan Tradition Is Still Alive
An Aerial Tour Of An Abandoned Chinese Fishing Village By Joe Nafis
When Airplane Food Was First Class – A Mouthwatering Look At What In-Flight Meals Used To Be Like In The Golden Age Of Flying
Drainage Canal In Japan Is So Clean They Yven Have Koi In It
Beautiful New Zealand: Earth’s Mythical Islands
Is This The Ultimate And Most Dangerous Infinity Pool In The World?
This Thai Resort Is Surrounded By Trees And Was Inspired By Four Fictitous Clans
This 25-Year-Old Puddle Has Its Own Instagram Account
Welcome To Creepy Island Of Broken Dolls On Teshuilo Lake In Mexico
Cat Owner Sabine Fallend Photographs Her Eyeless Cat Who Sees With His Heart
Otherworldly Pictures Of Northern Iceland
Woman Parodies Perfect Instagram Travel Photos With Hilariously Unphotogenic Selfies
Bone Church of Rome: Amazing Vintage Photos Show Inside Rome’s Capuchin Crypt From the Late 19th Century
Chinese Village Builds Giant Golden Statue Of Mao Zedong
Arctic Expedition Discover Mysterious Hole Cut Into The Ice
A Suspended Treehouse to Sleep with Birds
After Going Through A Rough Year With Cancer, This Woman Takes Back Her Life By Doing This
Photographer Wakes Up At 5AM To Hike The Transylvanian Mountains And Capture Stunning Landscapes
Parts Of Hawaii Are Covered In Snow
Inside The Abandoned Summer Camp In Chernobyl