"Careful! Don't bruise the fruits!" said Pema Wangdui, Party branch secretary of Xuechong Village, Dongga Town, Sangzhutse District, Xigaze City, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. He stood under a peach tree, steadying a ladder with both hands, calling out nervously to the villagers who were carefully picking peaches from the rungs.

The branches of the trees, heavy with pink-tinged juicy peaches, bent low under the weight. The sweet scent of ripe fruit, mixed with the earthy aroma of the soil, filled the air.

In the orchard, over a dozen villagers worked in coordinated teams. Some climbed ladders to pluck peaches, others bent down to collect fallen fruits, and the rest loaded baskets brimming with fresh peaches onto tricycles. Laughter, calls, and the rustle of leaves mingled and echoed through the air.

This lush peach orchard in Xuechong Village is a "Forest of Hope" planted jointly by local officials and residents through voluntary tree-planting efforts.

In recent years, Sangzhutse District has prioritized ecological conservation and green development. It has integrated land greening, ecological restoration, and the development of characteristic fruit industries. Through widespread public voluntary tree-planting campaigns, the district has poured efforts into building the "Dongga Peach Orchard" industrial base, planting over 6,000 saplings including apple and peach trees in Xuechong and Kaduo villages.

Every spring, officials and residents from the Sangzhutse District Forestry and Grassland Bureau and Dongga Townwork on the sandy and stony land, digging pits, replacing soil, planting saplings, and diverting water for irrigation. They expand the scale of the Dongga Peach Orchard one sapling at a time.

"Planting accounts for 30 percent of the work, while management and care take70 percent. Tree-planting is only the first step. Proper maintenance is the key," said an official from the Sangzhutse District Forestry and Grassland Bureau, squatting on the ridge of a farm field. He flipped open a maintenance logbook, its pages densely filled with records of every watering and fertilization session.

He told the reporter that after the saplings were planted, the district distributed organic fertilizers, pruning tools, and other supplies promptly. They fully mobilized local residents to carry out regular maintenance work, including fertilization, pest and disease control, tree irrigation, dead branch pruning, weed clearing, and fence repair. This ensures that "every planted sapling survives, and every patch of land turns green."

To ensure residents master the skills of fruit tree management, the Sangzhutse District Forestry and Grassland Bureau has moved its "classrooms" directly to the fields. Experts are invited to share practical knowledge with villagers from Xuechong and Kaduo, providing hands-on guidance and one-on-one training. This helps solve difficulties encountered in daily fruit tree management and improves residents' maintenance capabilities.

Years of continuous tree-planting and meticulous day-to-day care have yielded rewarding results of spring blossoms and autumn harvests. The once barren, sand-and-stone covered wasteland is now a thriving orchard heavy with sweet fruits.

"Look at these peaches—they are big, bright in color, and taste so sweet," said Tsering Drolkar, a villager from Xuechong Village. She picked a juicy peach from the basket, wiped it with the corner of her coat, and handed it to the reporter. Her home is right next to the orchard, and she has visited the grove almost every day in the past two years. "I take care of these trees just like I look after my own children," she said.

This year, the Dongga Peach Orchard has harvested over 500 kilograms of juicy peaches and apples. Pema Wangdui counted the earnings on his fingers: "Most of the fruits are distributed to the villagers, and the rest can be sold in the market for 7 to 8 yuan per jin." He paused for a moment and added, "The money is not a huge sum, but everyone sees the hope here—this orchard not only blocks sandstorms, but also generates income for us."

From a high vantage point, the peach orchard stretches out in layered greenery, with lush foliage spreading along the mountain slopes. Voluntary tree-planting has not only turned the hillsides green, but also filled the pockets of local residents.

After distributing the last basket of peaches, Pema Wangdui did not rush home. He squatted under a tree and discussed with several villagers:what saplings to plant in the empty plot on the eastern slope next spring, and which sections of the irrigation pipes need reinforcement before winter. A staff member from the Forestry and Grassland Bureau joined the conversation, saying, "Before winter comes, we will organize another round of pruning and fertilization to make sure this orchard is well managed."

"The bigger this orchard grows year by year, the sweeter our lives will be," Pema Wangdui told the reporter.

In spring, people come to admire the peach blossoms and check in at the scenic spot. In summer, they gather in the nearby for leisure. In autumn, they come to pick fresh fruits and taste the harvest. The ecological dividends of the Dongga Peach Orchard will truly bring tangible benefits to more local residents.

Reporters: Tashi Dhondup, Ma Xiaoyan

Correspondent: Tenzin Jinzha

Translator: Peng Qing, Zhi Xinghua

Reviewer: Hu Rongguo, Drakpa Wangchen