Guo Jingyu, producer [Photo provided to China Daily]

So, China decided to protect the capital from the sand.

The Saihanba project, which now covers a total area of 92,000 hectares, is perhaps the world's largest man-made forest.

Guo says that after interviewing more than 120 people－from planters to local officials－who have been involved in the project, he was both shocked and touched.

"The temperature in Saihanba falls to-40 C and the living conditions are very harsh," he says.

The first batch of young graduates, then in their 20s, mostly forestry majors, had to be innovative to fulfill their mission.

"On some craggy hills that were covered by just 2 meters of soil, not enough for growing trees, they dug holes in the hard ground with their bare hands to plant the saplings that they carried onto the slopes," says Guo.

"The young people devoted their best years to making Saihanba green again. It's a spirit worthy of respect," he adds.

"I am not sure that such a theme will appeal to young audiences, but I believe that such a series needs to be made to pass on this spirit to the younger generations," he says. The TV series stars Liu Zhiyang, He Yuhong, Gao Ming, Jia Hongwei, Zhao Huanxuan and Yu Hongzhou.

Ju Xingmao, the director, says two large sets have been built in Saihanba, and the crew purchased some trucks that were in use in the 1960s. "We'll try to relive the story," says Ju.