Full Breakdown
Desert Revival in Inner Mongolia: Luxury Resorts and Green Oases
By Drooid · · How we work
Transformation of the Kubuqi Desert
In late July, Yu Xiaohui drove from Beijing to the eastern edge of the Kubuqi Desert in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, after her 9-year-old daughter asked to see sand. Instead of a barren plain she encountered a resort complex that includes luxury hotels, water parks, cable cars and camel rides. Authorities cite a rise in the desert-control rate from 4.6 % at the turn of the century to roughly 50 % today, a shift they describe as moving from “losing the battle” to “winning it.” Xiangshawan, a 5A-level scenic area, now features the Lotus Hotel—an all-inclusive property with peak-season packages starting at 2,280 yuan ($340) for a two-day, one-night stay. The resort attracted about 16,000 foreign visitors in July, a 176 % year-on-year increase, with most guests arriving from South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Tourists were photographed enjoying a desert pool on August 5.
Ecological Restoration and a 26-Year Friendship
American Ronald Sakolsky arrived in Ordos in August and reunited with Yin Yuzhen, a celebrated Chinese desert-planting activist. Their partnership began in 1999 when Sakolsky’s foundation raised $5,000 for tree-planting in the Mu Us Desert. Over four decades the effort has produced more than 50,000 trees and transformed roughly 4,667 hectares of sand into an oasis. Yin’s work, together with her husband’s, has placed 85 % of the Mu Us Desert under control. Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), Inner Mongolia has completed ecological projects on about 8.47 million hectares and treated roughly 445,867 hectares of desertified land, the largest regional effort in China.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The idea is that you can just check in and not worry about anything else,” — Li Jin'e, Xiangshawan’s marketing director “The idea is that you can just check in and not worry about anything else,” — Li Jin'e, Xiangshawan's marketing director
- “More than two decades ago, we were just friends who happened to meet. But today, we are as close as brother and sister,” — Ronald Sakolsky “More than two decades ago, we were just friends who happened to meet. But today, we are as close as brother and sister,” — American Ronald Sakolsky
- “In this story, Yin is the real protagonist," Sakolsky added.” — Ronald Sakolsky “In this story, Yin is the real protagonist,” — American Ronald Sakolsky
What’s Next
Sakolsky plans to travel to the Mu Us Desert to plant additional trees and later visit Luoyang to reconnect with former students. Xiangshawan’s management expects foreign visitor numbers to keep rising as new leisure islands and cultural programs expand.
