Back from the wilderness

The tale of the creation of China's largest national forest tells of foresight and of tenacity over more than 50 years

The mid-summer morning is shrouded in white, every mountain crevice filled with this milky mist that overflows from plateau lakes clearly too shallow to hold it all.

I am in Saihanba, China's largest national forest, to see and learn about the epic, often tragic, effort that has gone into transforming this once desolate expanse into hectare upon hectare of lush green forest. But before I can even contemplate that task the sheer majesty of the place sweeps me off my feet.