Once a relentless "sea of death," the Taklamakan Desert in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is witnessing a remarkable transformation. After years of unyielding effort, a sand-control barrier stretching thousands of kilometers has been completed, turning the dream of a greener Taklamakan into reality.
The Taklamakan, located in the heart of the Tarim Basin, is China's largest desert and the world's second-largest shifting desert, spanning more than 330,000 square kilometers - nearly one-fifth of Xinjiang's total land area.
For generations, it posed a formidable challenge to survival and development. In recent decades, Xinjiang has mobilized joint efforts across multiple regions to build a protective green shield around the desert.
Qiemo County, situated on the desert's southern edge, has played a crucial role in the campaign. From restoring reed wetlands to drilling wells, planting trees, installing irrigation systems, and constructing infrastructure, local workers have labored tirelessly to curb desertification and restore vitality to the land.
Local resident Patigul Yasin recalled her childhood experience before the desert was turned into an oasis.
"When I was a child, sandstorms were frequent. And whenever one came, the sky would turn completely dark. Nearly 200 days a year, we had this kind of sandy weather," she noted.
Patigul Yasin became a sand-control worker at the Windbreak and Sand Control Workstation in 2005, driven by a curiosity for the vast desert. Yet, the work soon proved far from what she expected.
"We were taken to the wetlands where the desert meets the Qarqan River. Reeds naturally grew there, and a thin layer of ice had formed on top, with some parts thicker than others. We were each handed a sickle and sent down to cut the reeds. We laughed, thinking, 'what are we doing?' Because this wasn't at all what I had imagined sand control work to be," she said.
Though hardship once made her consider quitting, Patigul said her father's encouragement inspired her to persevere.
Over the past two decades, she has planted tens of thousands of trees and devoted herself to fighting desertification.
"Before the spring tree planting season, we would work on road construction, well drilling, and high-voltage power line installation. Female workers would lay irrigation pipes. After the tree planting, we would shift to routine summer forest maintenance. The annual precipitation here is only about 20 millimeters, while the evaporation rate exceeds 2,000 millimeters. All trees rely on groundwater for irrigation. Whether it's a forest planted 20 years ago or saplings planted this year, they all require long-term care," she said.
By the end of 2023, a sand-blocking barrier of 2,761 kilometers had encircled the Taklamakan, with the final 285 kilometers of the gap area successfully closed.
"I was overjoyed to hear that the final 285-kilometer gap in the barrier had been closed. Looking up at the vast blue sky, I saw the lush green spreading across the desert, and I felt that all these years of afforestation and desertification control efforts had finally borne fruit. I felt a deep sense of accomplishment. My biggest hope is that desert control will never stop, never stay still, but keep moving forward," she said.
China's Taklamakan Desert transformed as sand-control barrier construction completed
