These relentless sandstorms defy geographical boundaries, sweeping across not only the arid regions but also reaching the eastern sea coasts via the far north and central parts of the country. Their wrath knows no bounds, wreaking havoc across eleven provinces in northern and central China.
Within China’s vast expanse lie two formidable deserts, each with its own character and tempestuous legacy. The first, the Taklimakan Desert, sprawls across Xinjiang Autonomous Province and its neighboring regions in the north western reaches of the country. Its name resonates with ancient echoes, evoking a land bereft of water-a parched wilderness where life struggles to endure.
Second, the Gobi Desert stretches across China’s northern province of Inner Mongolia. Like its counterpart, the Gobi is no stranger to sand and wind, yet it bears a unique distinction. While its dunes resemble those of the Taklimakan, the Gobi wears a frosty mantle. It is a cold desert, where snowflakes dance upon the same sandy canvas. Year after year, these desolate realms unleash their fury.
Sandstorms, like vengeful spirits, sweep across the land, sparing neither city nor countryside. Even the heart of Beijing, China’s bustling capital, succumbs to their wrath. In desperation, people seal their windows and bolt their doors, seeking refuge from the relentless onslaught.
Amidst grandiose proclamations of environmental stewardship, the Chinese government parades a carefully curated spectacle. Their media showcases vivid images and eloquent narratives, portraying tireless efforts to rescue the planet.
Yet, beneath this glossy facade lies a web of deception. The truth, veiled in secrecy, is obscured by a fog of misinformation. China’s statistical tapestry, woven by the hands of the communist regime, conceals more than it reveals. Since 1978, China has endeavored to reclaim its sandy expanses, a monumental task slated for completion by 2050. China aimed to shield its 4,506-kilometer-long desert frontier in the northwest with the ambitious Great Green Wall.
The freshly planted trees would combat carbon emissions and curb soil erosion. Alas, despite $8 billion budget, corruption within the CPC has stalled this vital project. Consequently, swathes of China still grapple with relentless summer sandstorms. On March 27th some netizens filmed the horrific scene of a sandstorm arriving over Beijing from a plane and the video went viral on the internet.
The central meteorological Observatory issued a yellow sandstorm warning at 6 am on March 27th for 11 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, including Beijing, Tianjin, most of Hebei, western Liaoning, western Jilin, southern Xinjiang, most of Inner Mongolia, Gansu and Hexi, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Central and Northern Shanxi as well as Shaanxi.
That day many videos of sandstorms were posted on Chinese social media, some netizens took photos from a plane showing a sandstorm rushing towards Beijing with a yellow sand cloud visible below the aircraft. Another netizen’s plane arrived in Beijing in the evening and he captured terrifying scenes of a sandstorm engulfing the sky above Beijing. In the picture black sand clouds formed by sandstorms rolled high in the sky resembling a huge wave heading straight towards the city of Beijing.
The sand and dust obscured the sky and the sun rendering it dark. Satellite weather cloud images posted online depicted a large wave of sand and dust approaching Beijing. Many Beijing residents reminded each other to return home early and to close doors and windows at night on the evening of the 27th .
Some netizens from Shandong reported encountering sandstorms there too saying its yellow here as well. The Beijing Municipal education commission issued a notice on the 27th, suspending open air gatherings and outdoor sports activities and advising teachers, students and employees to limit outdoor activities.
In the past four years, China’s economy has faced significant challenges due to the Corona pandemic. Unfortunately, this economic downturn has exacerbated with existing environmental issues, particularly desertification. Due to corruption and lack of will, less than 20% of the planned afforestation has been successfully implemented.
Factors such as corruption and a lack of commitment have hindered progress. As a result, the situation has worsened, posing a serious threat to China’s ecosystems. Annually, the desert in China relentlessly encroaches, devouring an astonishing 210,000 hectares of land.
If the Chinese government fail to urgently address this pressing issue, the hard-won gains of previous efforts will slip through their fingers. The relentless desert expansion threatens to devour even more cultivable land, exacerbating the severity of droughts. Furthermore, the constraints of summer will tighten, casting a shadow over the nation’s future.
Comment