The Green Miracle: Shapotou

Where the raw power of the Tengger Desert meets the life-giving waters of the Yellow River, lies Shapotou in northwest China's Zhongwei City. Here, shifting sands threatened to engulf farmland and disrupt local livelihoods.

However, through years of tireless effort, local communities have successfully combat desertification with innovative techniques like "straw checkerboard barrier" and sand-fixing systems, halting the desert's advance. 

Zhongwei has reclaimed 1.5 million mu (about 100,000 hectares) out of its total 1.68 million mu of desert through afforestation in several decades. This endeavor has expanded its vegetation coverage from less than 1 percent to 42 percent at present, effectively pushing back the Tengger Desert by 25 kilometers.

About The Green Miracle Series:

The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 2 to 13, 2024. This significant gathering brings together representatives from 197 parties to address pressing issues related to land degradation, desertification and drought. This series will lead you to witness China's efforts to combat desertification and promote harmony between humans and nature.

For more:

The Green Miracle: Saihanba

The Green Miracle: Haba Lake

(Cover is a screenshot.)