Su doesn t know where to turn, but the government offers no answers. The premier himself visited this house, stood on this roof, and promised action. Then Premier Zhu led away his convoy to the next sand-blown stop on the itinerary. Since then, Su has seen lots of local officials. They banned farms outside of small household plots and the raising of animals.
Residents can no longer burn wood for heating and cooking.
And the farmers have been drafted as tree-planters. We ll plant trees every day for five years, says Zhang Baoguan of nearby Caonianguo. And if that doesn t work, he adds dejectedly, we ll plant for five more. That s what they tell us. Similar measures have been implemented in Longbaoshan, a village that may soon be submerged in sand.