In just over 30 years, the Chinese have greened more than 3,200 km² of this desert.
From a Green Oasis on the Yellow River to a Dead Land
Kubuqi Desert, in Mongolian, means “Bow and Arrow on the Yellow River”. This name originates from the shape of the desert, resembling a bowstring lying across the river. As the seventh largest desert in China, Kubuqi spans an area of 13,900 km2 (twice the size of Shanghai). This desert was once a haunting sight, with sand dunes rising up to 60 meters (equivalent to the height of a 20-story building) that were constantly shifting.
The scariest part is that 60% of the sand dunes in Kubuqi are mobile. Imagine, as these massive sand dunes move, they crush everything in their path. This is why Chinese history has often witnessed the phenomenon of “the desert advancing while humans retreat.”
Kubuqi Desert spans an area of 13,900 km² (twice the size of Shanghai). (Photo: Sohu).
It is hard to believe that 3,000 years ago, this place was a lush green land, which only turned into arid land 400 years ago. The reason lies in sandstorms. Many people mistakenly believe that the sand in sandstorms comes from the desert, but this is not the case.
Sandstorms causing “sky blindness” are actually due to fine yellow dust. This fine dust comes from dried salt lakes and barren land. The characteristic of these areas is dry, loose topsoil and fine soil particles, so when strong winds arise, these fine particles are carried away by the wind.
When strong winds blow, they lift the fine soil layer in the sand, leaving only sand and land that has turned into desert. Thus, the desert is a remnant product of sandstorms. If we say that yellow sand can create sandstorms, then such sandstorms only harm the local area.
The scariest part is that 60% of the sand dunes in Kubuqi are mobile. (Photo: Sohu).
Therefore, sandstorms affecting the entire northern part of China carry fine dust or soil. Understanding this, we can have a clear goal in controlling sandstorms. This involves searching for and managing areas where strong winds can pick up dust. Consequently, dried salt lakes and fine soil layers in barren lands become the key.
The Battle Against Historical Trends: Turning Desert into Oasis
In the past, directly rehabilitating the desert was very difficult due to a lack of knowledge and technology. However, scientists have now discovered a feasible method starting from dried salt lakes and barren land to make rehabilitation easier.
For example, Minqin County, located between Badain Jaran Desert and Tengger Desert, is home to Qingtu Lake. Historically, the water surface area of Qingtu Lake was comparable to that of Qinghai Lake. But over time, by the Ming and Qing dynasties, the area shrank to only 400 km2. By the 1940s, the area continued to decrease to 70 km2. By the late 1950s, the lake had completely dried up, to the point where its name was removed from maps in the 1970s. Eventually, it formed a 13 km long strip of sand, which became the largest “gateway” for sand and wind in Minqin County.
Subsequently, scientists began rehabilitating Qingtu Lake, even diverting water from the Yellow River. Today, based on Qingtu Lake, a vast wetland of 106 km2 has been formed. The environment has not only improved significantly but has also prevented the merging of two major deserts.
Scientists have transformed Qingtu Lake into a wetland covering 106 km². (Photo: Sohu)
The rehabilitation of Kubuqi Desert can also follow this model. From the 1960s to the 1970s, the Chinese government began a campaign to green Kubuqi Desert. A 250 km long canal was constructed to irrigate the desert. This journey seemed incredibly difficult, but researchers succeeded.
As of 2022, the height of the sand dunes in Kubuqi has decreased by half compared to 20 years ago. This is indeed an incredible achievement. The area of the rehabilitated desert has reached over 6,000 km2, with over 3,200 km2 of green coverage, which means 33.3% of the entire desert area has been restored. More notably, thanks to technological advancements, the rate of rehabilitation in Kubuqi Desert is increasing.
Regarding forest cover, in 2002, this figure accounted for only 0.8% of the total desert area. However, by 2021, it had increased to 15.7%. When calculated by vegetation coverage, this figure is even more impressive, rising from 16.2% to 53%, surpassing half of the total area. Therefore, although the rehabilitation of Kubuqi cannot be compared to the complete “eradication” of Mao Usu Desert, it will certainly become the second desert to disappear after Mao Usu.
The area of Kubuqi Desert that has been rehabilitated has exceeded 6,000 km², with green coverage exceeding 3,200 km². (Photo: Sohu).
Today, Kubuqi has become an important food production area in Inner Mongolia. Along with the rehabilitation process, the number of species here has increased tenfold. For example, swans, wild rabbits, and poplar trees… over 100 local plant and animal species that had gone extinct have reappeared. Furthermore, the unique conditions of the desert have been utilized to cultivate licorice for medicinal use. The area planted with licorice has reached 2.2 million mu, forming a pollution-free farming zone without pesticide residues.
From Arid Desert to the “Green Lung” of the Region
Over an area of more than 1 million mu of desert, black soil has emerged, retaining over 24 billion cubic meters of water. The planted vegetation can release more than 18.3 million tons of oxygen. Furthermore, a wetland of 60 km2 has even been created within the desert to raise crabs. These achievements have helped reduce the number of sandstorm days annually from 50-60 days down to just 3-5 days. Annual rainfall has also increased from below 70 mm to over 300 mm. These changes have not only improved the environment of the Ordos Plateau but have also brought clear skies to the northern region.
Thanks to technology, Kubuqi Desert is now green. (Photo: Sohu).
According to local residents sharing with the news site Sohu, during the 1950s-1960s, Kubuqi Desert had sand blowing 300 days a year. It was common to find sand in meals, and sand could even sneak into their blankets while they slept. People living in the desert faced difficulties in treating illnesses. To build a house, they had to take three years to transport materials using horses and camels.
Since the late 1980s, local efforts in rehabilitating Kubuqi Desert have intensified. By 1996, five roads cutting through Kubuqi Desert began construction. With an investment of 1.28 billion yuan and a total length of 340 km, these roads have quickly changed the landscape of Kubuqi.
By 2006, to restore the ecology of Kubuqi Desert, the local government relocated nomadic people living in the desert and invested in building villages. Previously, children living in the desert could not attend school until they were over 10 years old. The authorities invested 110 million yuan to build schools from kindergarten to secondary levels. Currently, the number of students and teachers in these schools has exceeded 1,300.
The rehabilitation of Kubuqi Desert has achieved significant milestones. (Photo: Sohu).
Subsequently, these villages have developed experiential tourism. The economy of the locals has changed dramatically. For instance, a restaurant in Daotu village reportedly had an annual income of only 10,000 yuan in 2006, but by 2016, that income had risen to over 300,000 yuan, more than 30 times its previous value.
The rehabilitation of Kubuqi Desert has achieved remarkable accomplishments. In 2007, the International Forum on Kubuqi Desert was held at Qixing Lake within the desert. In June 2012, the ecological civilization model of Kubuqi Desert was included on the list of significant achievements at the Rio+20 summit by the United Nations and promoted worldwide.
In 2013, the United Nations produced an official documentary about the rehabilitation of Kubuqi Desert and continuously screened it for representatives from more than 190 countries. In 2014, Kubuqi was recognized by the United Nations as the first model ecological economic zone in the world.
Currently, the experience of desert reclamation in Kubuqi is not only widely applied in China but also shared internationally. (Photo: Sohu).
This recognition is the result of many years of efforts by the Chinese government in desert reclamation. Naturally, alongside the reclamation of Kubuqi Desert, development must align with local conditions. For instance, research on solar energy in the Kubuqi Desert has achieved significant advancements. The use of solar energy has become prevalent in Kubuqi; this energy source is utilized for heating, providing hot water, regulating temperatures in greenhouses, and even for soil sterilization and pest control. As a result, solar energy projects in Kubuqi have diversified considerably.
In summary, the reclamation of Kubuqi Desert has been highly successful. The previously mobile sand dunes have been completely halted by a 240 km long sand barrier located in the desert’s center. The reclamation of Kubuqi Desert has become a model for desert reclamation and ecological restoration worldwide, even evolving into a brand for China. Today, the experience of Kubuqi Desert reclamation is not only widely applied in China but also disseminated abroad, in countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, Pakistan, and Kazakhstan…
