Plants grow in Hexigten Banner due to years of green efforts. [Photo/Grassland Cloud Media]

"Ten years ago, strong winds could uproot the grass, and sand piled higher than the courtyard walls," recalls Bateer, a herder from Hexigten Banner. "Now the roads are open, the sand is stable, the grass is green, and even hares have returned!" He added.

Bateer's words reflect the remarkable transformation brought about by Hexigten Banner's ambitious "battle against the sand sea".

The strategy, known as "segmented containment and encirclement eradication", involves constructing sand-crossing roads to divide moving dunes into grid-like sections before systematically stabilizing and greening each portion.

To date, Hexigten Banner has built 23 sand-crossing roads, fragmenting the vast desert into more than 40 grid sections, the smallest of which covers only 80 mu (5.33 hectares).

"By breaking up large dunes into smaller sections, the difficulty of sand control is cut in half!" said Narisu, director of the Hexigten Banner's transportation bureau.

As the dunes recede, greenery spreads. This extensive road network tames the shifting sands and paves the way for prosperity among local herders.

A bridge crosses the deserts of Hexigten Banner. [Photo/Grassland Cloud Media]

In Jingpeng town, a 20.6-kilometer sand-crossing road has turned what was once an arid desert into a thriving economic hub. On either side of the road, vast arrays of photovoltaic panels shimmer under the sun, with high-quality grass thriving beneath them.

"The solar panels block the wind, the grass stabilizes the sand, and the sheep graze under the panels – it's a triple benefit!" explained Fang Haidong, secretary of Baitu Jingzi village. He calculated that leasing sand land to photovoltaic enterprises, combined with pasture income, has added an extra 20,000 yuan ($2,770) in annual earnings.

In recent years, Hexigten Banner has constructed 150 km of sand-crossing roads, restoring over 400,000 mu of desert land. The initiative has employed more than 2,500 local farmers and herders, accelerating desertification control while boosting incomes.

So far, 16 million yuan in wages have been distributed, increasing per capita income by more than 6,400 yuan.

A paved road crosses Hexigten Banner's grand sandy land. [Photo/Grassland Cloud Media]