Legless veteran, 70, has planted 17,000 trees in 19 years using a spade and a hoe to turn a barren mountain into a forest
- Ma Sanxiao from Hebei, China, had both of his legs amputated due to an illness
- He started to plant trees to earn money, but now he does it to 'repay the society'
- He rides a tuk tuk to the mountain before crawling on the ground with his tools
A Chinese veteran who lost both of his legs due to an illness has planted more than 17,000 trees in 19 years on a once-barren mountain.
Ma Sanxiao, 70, has created a lush forest from scratch using a spade, a hoe and his iron will.
The double amputee started to plant trees in the year 2000 as a way to earn extra money for his family, but now he considers it a way to repay the society.
Ma Sanxiao, 70, has planted the trees on a once-barren mountain in his village in Hebei, China
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Mr Ma lives in the village of Mayu in Jing County in northern China's Hebei Province.
According to China News, the retired soldier often leaves his home at 5am before sunrise to plant trees on a mountain on the west side of his village in the Taihang Mountain Range.
He brings food with him and usually spends the whole day in the wilderness on his own.
Mr Ma rides a tuk tuk from his home to the mountain with the help of artificial limbs.
Once he reaches the patch he wants to plant trees on, he removes his prostheses, puts on thick gloves before crawling on the ground with his tools to his final destination.
He rides a tuk tuk to the mountain on the west side of his village with the help of artificial limbs
Planting trees is not an easy task for a young and physically fit person, let alone a disabled pensioner.
Mr Ma says he has sustained serious injuries after falling into deep crevices during his outings.
Once, both of his stumps were crushed and had to have iron plates fit into them. Another time, he lost a little finger.
Explaining his remarkable achievement to the reporter in late March, Mr Ma said he first planted trees so he could sell them to support his family.
He then removes his prostheses and starts crawling on the mud with his tools to his destination
In 2008, his story was widely reportedly by Chinese media and the government reached out to provide him with financial assistance.
From then on, the elderly man carried on with his endeavour because 'I want to pay back the society and thank the government for their help'.
He says he feels secured and grounded when he spends time with trees.
He adds: 'To me, they are not trees. I consider them as the soldiers I have commanded.
'They make me feel very fulfilled.
'As long as I live, I shall keep planting trees for future generations.'
