Will China’s “green Great Wall” save it from encroaching sands?
A big part of it has just been completed. Its effect is hotly debated
In ancient times the shifting sands of the Taklamakan, a desert in China’s north-western Xinjiang region, swallowed up entire cities. Today they still cause trouble. On the edges of the desert, sand can smother crops, bury houses and block roads. Strong winds can also carry it thousands of miles away to choke the inhabitants of Beijing and other cites in the east.
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This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Trees to the rescue”
From the December 7th 2024 edition
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Chinese hackers are deep inside America’s telecoms networks
Rooting them out is proving a challenge
China cracks down on Karate-chopping cleaning ladies
The government doesn’t want people to be excessively entertained
Why China is losing interest in English
Learning the world’s lingua franca is no longer a priority for students or businessmen
MAGA with Chinese characteristics
Why many in China cheer for Donald Trump, despite his tariffs and team of hawks
Chinese women are making themselves heard on the big screen
A hilarious and heart-rending new film explores feminist themes
Fresh doubts about China’s ability to invade Taiwan
How corruption in the PLA is changing the calculations of analysts