Sand-control helps villagers launch careers

Sirenbabu in his restaurant

The Grassland Welcome You Restaurant

He attributes his success in business to the improved environment and transportation in Kubuqi as well as the natural landscape of the desert and Qixing Lake near his restaurant.

“During the peak season, in particular July and August, the restaurant is jammed with visitors. Our home-made yogurt, fried dough twist, fruit bar, and milk tea are popular with local tourists and visitors from southern provinces.”

There are 36 households in Sirenbabu’s village, and most of them run such restaurants or farm stays.

More than 1,300 households in Kubuqi are engaged in desert-related tourism services. The yearly income is about 100,000 yuan per househould.

Zhao Rui, a villager once living under the country's poverty line of 2,300 yuan of annual income, now earns about 24,000 yuan a year thanks to an eco-friendly photovoltaic project in Kubuqi.