On April 15, 2025, at a desertification control site in Arele Township, Yutian County, Hotan Prefecture, on the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, rose seedlings with new buds were planted in grid-shaped sand barriers. On the gray-yellow dunes, neat green squares blossomed, bringing vibrant life to the vast desert.

Squatting beside the newly planted rose seedlings, Mattursun Yebrayem, a villager from Wanfang Village in Arele Township, smiled and explained, "People usually think of roses as flowers for admiration, displayed in vases. But here," he continued, "they're 'guardians,' rooted in the sand!"

His words highlight the special role roses play in local desertification control. While roses add beauty to the desert, their robust root systems are even more vital—fixing sand and soil, and shielding against wind and sandstorms.

Photo taken in May 2024 shows a local harvests roses in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo offered by the Media Convergence Center of Hotan Prefecture)

Last November 28, a 3,046-kilometer green barrier around the Taklimakan Desert neared completion in Yutian County with the planting of 100,000 rose bushes. This "green scarf" is a new success story in China's fight against desertification. Using roses to complete the barrier also symbolizes the dedication and passion of the people working to combat desertification.

Roses thriving in drought and saline-alkali soil

"Can roses really grow in the desert?" This is a common question among visitors to Yutian County.

Located at the northern foot of the Kunlun Mountains and the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert, Yutian has an arid climate, significant day-night temperature variations, and abundant sunlight. These conditions create an ideal environment for specific rose varieties, and the region has a long history of rose cultivation. In the past, locals primarily grew roses to beautify their courtyards and make rose petal jam.

"We locals know roses can really fix the sand," said Mattursun Yebrayem as he crouched down to brush away loose grains and reveal the rose's fibrous roots. "Look at these roots, they have penetrated deep into the dunes, reaching at least three meters below the surface. "

Photo show roses growing in Yutian County, Hotan Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo offered by the Media Convergence Center of Yutian County)

Cai Xianfu, Party Secretary of Arele Township, explained, "The roses cultivated in Yutian County are a kind of special breed that is adapted to desert-fringe environments. They're incredibly drought-resistant and can tolerate the salty soil. The robust root systems of the rose can spread out quickly, and within a few years, each rose plant can create a flowering ridge two or three meters wide. That's what makes them so good at stopping sand dunes from shifting and preventing soil erosion."

"Moreover," he continued, "these roses typically grow in dense clusters. Their luxuriant foliage effectively blocks windblown sand and reduces wind velocity, mitigating surface erosion, while their intricate root systems anchor the sand, providing substantial benefits for stabilizing dunes and improving desert ecosystems."

According to an official from Yutian County's Forestry and Grassland Bureau, in the most severely wind-affected frontline areas, the county has meticulously established rose-based windbreak belts. These tightly-arranged rose plantings have significantly reduced wind speed, dramatically decreasing sand erosion in downstream areas.

　Growing roses successfully in desert areas is no easy feat

The lack of rainfall and limited water resources make large-scale cultivation challenging. Furthermore, frequent sandstorms can bury rose plants, impeding their growth.

Cai Xianfu recalled one year when a sudden sandstorm swept through a newly planted rose field. Within just a few hours, the fierce winds had completely buried nearly one-third of the young rose seedlings under heavy sand drifts. Though workers promptly dug out the buried saplings, many ultimately didn't survive due to severe root damage.

To overcome these challenges, authorities of Yutian County have been working closely with researchers to develop scientifically sound planting strategies. These take into account sand dune distribution patterns, prevailing wind directions, and hydrological conditions to maximize the roses' chances of thriving in this harsh environment.

Local authorities have adopted different planting methods based on land's shape and water distribution. On flat areas with more water, they plant roses in dense blocks. Along dune edges and ridgelines, they use belt planting.

Meanwhile, Yutian County has pioneered an innovative "tree + shrub" mixed cultivation model, establishing extensive green belts along the fringes of the Taklimakan Desert. Tall trees form windbreak barriers at the forefront, effectively reducing wind speed and shielding the roses from direct sandstorms. Below them, the dense root systems of shrubs intertwine with those of the roses, stabilizing the sand while improving soil structure, which creates a more favorable micro-environment that significantly boosts rose survival rates.

Through this scientifically tailored approach, Yutian has successfully developed an effective desert ecological protection system. This year, Arele Township plans to expand green belts beyond the desert’s perimeter, adding 1,200 hectares of new rose plantations. Here, sacsaoul trees, red willows, and Elaeagnus angustifolia stand resilient amid sprawling rose fields, showcasing the substantial ecological benefits of desertification control.

Boosting local incomes through planting roses

"We made an extra 63,000 yuan last year just from growing roses! And now, the government's even giving subsidies to help with planting," explained Mattursun Yebrayem. Over the past few years, as the desert around here slowly turned green, his family decided to lease about 3.33 hectares of sandy land and start growing roses. "We're not only making more money, but we're also helping to control the desertification in our hometown. It feels really good to be doing this!"

Photo taken in May 2024 shows rose field in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo offered by the Media Convergence Center of Hotan Prefecture)

Today, Yutian County's rose industry has broken through the limitations of single-crop cultivation, developing a more diversified and multi-dimensional industrial structure.

Fresh roses picked at dawn arrive at processing plants within 12 hours, where the distilled essential oil has become highly sought-after by consumers. More than 30 different rose-based products, including rose hydrosol, rose tea, and cosmetics, have now expanded their reach. E-commerce livestreaming has also driven year-on-year sales growth for related products. The roses have journeyed from desert origins to reach broader horizons.

The burgeoning rose industry has created more local employment opportunities. Tohuthan Ruzi, a resident of Youkakejiayi Village in Jiayi Township, has become a skilled operator at Yutian Guimi Biotechnology Co., Ltd., capable of working multiple positions. She now earns 3,500 yuan monthly while still being able to tend her family's rose fields during off-hours.　

In recent years, Yutian County has significantly expanded its desert rose cultivation, with current plantings covering nearly 80,000 mu (about 5,333 hectares). In 2024, the county produced over 12,000 tons of roses, generating an average yield value of 3,975 yuan per mu and boosting incomes for 4,238 households.

"Growing roses in the desert has brought substantial benefits to locals, which has greatly increased their motivation to participate in desert control efforts," said Jia Cunpeng, Party Secretary of Yutian's Forestry and Grassland Bureau.

But in Yutian County, the value of roses extends far beyond sand fixation and economic gains.

Wandering through the countryside, visitors find village paths lined with blooming rose bushes. Public spaces have been artfully designed with rose-themed flower beds and landscapes that complement traditional homes. By incorporating rose elements into rural construction, Yutian has transformed its villages into picturesque scenes.

The county has also developed several ecotourism sites around rose plantations, where visitors can admire vast rose fields and participate in rose-picking and product-making activities. Jia Cunpeng noted that this year, Yutian plans to further expand rose cultivation while enhancing scientific innovation and industrial integration to make rose production a cornerstone of local prosperity.

As the sun sets, Mattursun Yebrayem stood atop a dune after a day's work. The once-scattered rose plants have now formed continuous green ribbons across the sands. "Look, the sand has finally found its home beneath the rose roots."

(Source: People's Daily)