Yulin: A land of timeless heritage and ecological renewal

Yulin, a city at the crossroads of the Loess Plateau and the Mu Us Desert in northern Shaanxi province, blends ancient cultural heritage with a striking story of ecological renewal.

Content creators Oskar Kupke from Germany and Karyna Kovalevska from Ukraine traveled there from Oct 21 to 24 to uncover its rich cultural and natural wonders.

Their trip began with visits to Zhenbeitai Fortress and Red Stone Gorge, where they explored ancient terraces and red cliffs and delved into the stories of Yulin's historic frontier.

At the Shimao Site, they marveled at the grand ancient stone city in the ruins and experienced the legacy of Shimao civilization that flourished more than 4,000 years ago.

In the Northern Shaanxi Folk Song Museum and Chiniuwa Folk Culture Village, the bloggers immersed themselves in local traditions, singing timeless folk ballads and dancing lively yangko dances to experience a culture that has thrived for generations.

Their journey highlighted Yulin's remarkable ecological transformation. At the Bulang River Women's Desert Control Militia, they learned about Yulin's afforestation efforts, which began in 1974. Generations have worked tirelessly to plant trees and stabilize the dunes, turning barren deserts into green oases.

The reclaimed sandy lands now support unique agricultural ventures, such as cultivating sweet sandy apples — a vivid testament to the rewards of controlling desertification.

Weaving ancient history, living cultural heritage, and green miracles, Oskar and Karyna captured Yulin's deep cultural roots and vibrant stories, sharing this region's spirit with the world.