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Dubbed the ‘Photovoltaic Great Wall,’ a massive solar installation in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province is generating green electricity while shielding the Mu Us Desert’s fragile ecology.
By blocking direct sunlight, the panels create a sunshade effect that significantly reduces water evaporation from the ground. Beneath and around the arrays, large areas of drought-tolerant vegetation have been planted to make effective use of the sandy terrain.
Following careful selection, the research team has placed low water-requirement, sand-stabilizing species such as alfalfa and erect milkvetch directly under and between the panels, pushing vegetation coverage to past 90 percent.
The plants also provide natural feed for livestock. The forage from the solar panel-covered land, covering about 467 hectares, can sustain 1,000 sheep for up to 10 months.
Moreover, the panels can produce enough electricity to power some 100,000 households.
“We can steadily supply 450 million kWh of green electricity to the grid every year. The photovoltaic panels reduce wind speed by 50 percent, and the soil moisture evaporation beneath the panels is cut by 30 percent,” said Li Xiaolin, an engineer from the Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group.
Drawing on local sandy land resources, Shaanxi has pioneered a three-dimensional ecological protection approach: power generation atop solar panels, crop cultivation underneath and livestock grazing in the spaces between them.
This approach halts desertification while increasing farmers’ income, offering a replicable example for arid regions to pursue energy transition and land restoration simultaneously.
The project is part of the country’s broader efforts to halt desert expansion. Through its decades-long afforestation campaign, China has made significant strides toward this goal.
On Wednesday, the 2026 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, a report issued by the Northwest Institute of China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration states that all treatable mobile sand lands across Shaanxi was eliminated by the end of 2025, a landmark achievement.
“Great Wall” of solar panels protects ecology on desert edge in Shaanxi
Foreign visitors joined the vibrant celebrations of the Duanwu Festival in Haining City in east China’s Zhejiang Province, immersing themselves in traditional Chinese culture.
Celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, the Duanwu Festival, or the Dragon Boat Festival, falls on Friday this year. Its signature traditions include dragon boat races and the sharing of zongzi (sticky rice dumplings).
To build festive excitement ahead of the holiday, a unique dragon boat tug-of-war competition was held. Teams seated in dragon boats paddled vigorously in opposite directions, striving to drag their opponents across the finish line.
Many foreign visitors enthusiastically took part in the dragon boat races.
“My feeling, it was fun, and it’s hard. It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun, very fun. Maybe next year we will be better,” said Chiara, a visitor from Italy.
Meanwhile, other foreign guests tried their hand at making zongzi to gain a deeper appreciation of Chinese traditions.
“I feel like it’s like such a traditional technique, and you cannot get it from the first time. But I think with practice I can do it. I wanted to learn more about Chinese culture, so I think this is like a great way to learn. And also everyone is so welcoming, [everyone] wants us to try new things. I’m so happy to be here,” said Bekkali Kenza, a Moroccan visitor.
Foreign visitors enjoy traditional customs of Duanwu Festival
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