The waters that nourish the magnificent trees of Saihanba

The guardians of China's largest man-made forest have endured hardship over decades to see their life's work bear fruit

Six months ago An Xulin moved from his home village to Saihanba National Forest Park 30 kilometers away. When I met him in the hotel in which I stayed last month, he was busy preparing cuts of beef to sell.

"When things are going well I can sell 10 kilograms of these a day," he said. Every three kilograms of raw beef processed gives him one kilogram that he sells for 240 yuan ($40), which is not exactly cheap.