Published on: 2026-04-29
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –
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The edge of the Taklamakan Desert in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) is turning into an oasis where medicinal herbs grow vigorously. Where sands once raged, wormwood, roses, Baikal skullcap, and other Chinese medicinal plants are now planted.
In the Yutian County of Hotan region, local authorities are implementing new planting models combining trees, shrubs, and medicinal herbs. More than 27 thousand hectares of sandy lands have been planted, of which almost 2 thousand hectares are allocated for Chinese medicinal herbs. Wormwood has a developed root system and is drought-resistant. It not only fixes the sands and prevents wind erosion but also yields 2-3 harvests per year, which are processed into more than 20 types of products, including moxa and essential oils, helping farmers increase their income.
On the northern outskirts of the desert, in the Shaya county of Aksu district, local enterprises planted such desert plants as sacsaoul on an area of 3.1 thousand hectares, of which 2 thousand hectares are sown with cistanche. There is a production line in the county for processing Chinese medicinal herbs with a capacity of 10 thousand tons per year, which produces sliced pieces, raw extracts, lozenges for sucking, and other products, allowing to ensure a full value-added chain of desert resources.
In recent years, China has been actively developing economic sandy cultures, including Chinese medicinal herbs. The total area of such cultures has reached 722 thousand hectares, and the annual value of production is approaching 29 billion yuan. From simply fixing sands and combating desertification of the region, the approach has shifted to integrated development of “cultivation + processing,” turning desert resources into industrial advantages. The green belt encircling the Taklamakan Desert not only restrains sandstorms but also becomes a “botanical garden of medicinal herbs,” benefiting the local population.
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