Project
Desertification in China
Desertification is one of the most important environmental challenges facing the world today...
The Shapotou desert resort is the jewel in the tourism crown for Ningxia, China's poorest province. Lying on the edges of the Tengger desert, it is one of the most dramatic natural settings in all of China, situated at the convergence of the desert, the Yellow River and the "Fragrant Mountain" Range". Thousands of domestic tourists descend upon Shapotou each year to enjoy the natural scenery and partake in various activities on and around the 100-metre high dunes. Domestic tourism is now one of the fastest growing industries in China, with annual revenue from the industry averaging at US$60million, approximately 5% of the country's GDP. The park provides a welcome boost to the local economy and provides a brief respite and distraction for visitors from the effects of desertification, which are still however, subtly apparent all around them.
