Li says due to the low survival rate of the saplings, he had to replant trees at least five times before they would finally take root and grow healthily.

The wind and sand eroded Li's skin. His hands and feet still suffer from skin fissures.

Having spent all his money on larches, pines and shrubs that help to fix the soil, he had to apply for loans from banks and borrow from friends and former colleagues.

Despite the financial hardship, what was even more intolerable for Li was the incomprehension and objection he faced from his family and friends, many of whom deemed him mad for giving up his perfectly normal life.

Li's wife, Yan Aiyun, refused to go onto the mountain with him. When, after three years, she finally did step on the soil of Matou Mountain, she was immediately moved to tears by the verdant landscape.

"Since then, no matter how much money we spent, how much effort we devoted, how much hardship we suffered, I feel it is all worthwhile." Yan says.

Despite the difficulties and distress, Li specifically expressed his gratitude to Wang Jian, the former director of the county's transport bureau.

Quickly running out of budget and owing a great debt, Li had to seek support from officials to build a road and he went to the bureau to explain his dilemma.

Wang immediately filed a report to the provincial government and managed to build a road on Matou Mountain in just 20 days.

So far, Li has spent over five million yuan ($726,511) on his tree-planting project and has planted approximately 3 million trees.

"At first, I would put in 100,000 or 200,000 yuan each year. Now, I only need to spend about 20,000 yearly, to replace the dead trees with new ones," Li says.

Li has now paid back most of his debt with his earnings from raising cattle. "Now the environment is quite nice, and the mountain is in close proximity to Youyu's historical site Shahukou. I am even thinking of developing agritourism here.

"Some people have asked me what I am aiming for, but I really don't know the answer. I just simply love trees," Li says. "At least I have done one thing in my life. I have gone through adversity, but now I feel proud and a strong sense of accomplishment."