Ecological Restoration and Desert Tourism in Shapotou, China

Tucked away in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Shapotou is a national resort area where river, sand, and stars converge, transformed from a once-threatened desert landscape to a thriving symbol of ecological restoration and desert tourism. Once infamous for encroaching desert dunes and deadly sandstorms, Shapotou has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past several decades, thanks to concerted national efforts to combat desertification. Researchers and local residents worked together to develop and use a straw checkerboard technique to fight desertification, along with tree planting and other endeavors. As a result, the desert retreated by 25 kilometers, and new opportunities emerged in this region.

Key Takeaways:

• Shapotou first attracted serious attention with the construction of the Baotou-Lanzhou railway in 1958, which was China's first desert railway.
• Researchers and local residents worked together to develop and use a straw checkerboard technique to fight desertification, which has led to the desert retreating by 25 kilometers over several decades.
• The desert tourism industry in Shapotou has boomed in recent years, with luxury stargazing stays and immersive desert experiences drawing visitors from around the world, including product launches and reality shows.
• Local data revealed that Zhongwei's tourism employment level had risen from 40,000 in 2014 to 70,000 in 2024, a nearly 75% increase.
• The Desert Star Hotel, which offers luxury stargazing stays with rooms priced at up to 2,000 yuan (about 279 U.S. dollars) per night, saw occupancy rates of nearly 100% in 2024, with the local government's investment fully recovered.
• The Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, a decades-long afforestation initiative launched in 1978, has completed 480 million mu (about 32 million hectares) of afforestation, rehabilitated 1.28 billion mu of degraded grassland, and treated 500 million mu of desertified land by 2023.
• As a pioneer of desert tourism in China, Shapotou is now developing more upscale desert vacation experiences, including minimalist sand-toned villas modeled after ancient Silk Road camel towns.

Statistics:

• 25 kilometers: the distance the desert retreated in Shapotou over several decades due to concerted national efforts.
• 1958: the year China's first desert railway, the Baotou-Lanzhou railway, was constructed.
• 1978: the year the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program was launched, aiming to combat land degradation and desertification in northwest, north, and northeast China.
• 480 million mu: the area of afforestation completed by the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program by 2023.
• 1.28 billion mu: the area of degraded grassland rehabilitated by the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program by 2023.
• 500 million mu: the area of desertified land treated by the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program by 2023.
• 5.05%: the forest coverage in the project area in 1978.
• 13.84%: the forest coverage in the project area in 2023.
• 2014: the year Zhongwei's tourism employment level was 40,000.
• 2024: the year Zhongwei's tourism employment level was 70,000, a nearly 75% increase.
• 2,000 yuan: the highest nightly price for rooms at the Desert Star Hotel.
• 200 million yuan: the infrastructure investment for the Tengol Desert Resort.
• 105: the number of rooms at the Tengol Desert Resort.

Sources:

• People's Republic of China -- State Council News
• MIL-OSI China News (http://milnz.co.nz/mil-osi-aggregation/) - Copyright 2025 Multimedia Investments Ltd, distributed by Contify.com