A screenplay adapted from a novel written by promising young Ordos writer Xiao Rui won the "Excellent Screenplay" category at the awards ceremony for the 2019 Xia Yan Cup excellent screenplay collection activity -- held in Hangzhou in eastern Zhejiang province on Nov 16.

The Xia Yan Cup, founded in 2006, is the only government award for film scripts in China.

The victorious screenplay adapted from the Xiao Rui novel was penned by leading screenwriters Huang Dan, Xiao Rui and Xu Suying.

According to media reports, a total of 1,039 qualified screenplays were in contention at the event. After several rounds of selection, 34 works were given awards, of which only five won "Excellent Screenplay" prizes.

The Ordos-linked screenplay tells the story of a protagonist who inspires and leads local people to plant trees and forests in the Maowusu Desert over the course of more than half a century.

Their actions create an oasis in the desert, which embodies the concept of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets".