(ECNS) -- In Baicheng County, Xinjiang, 400,000 acid jujube seedlings are thriving on land that was barren and saline just two years ago, part of efforts to restore degraded Gobi desert.

Fruit trees grow on the Gobi desert in Baicheng County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo: An Ran)

Zhang Haoran, a former government employee in his 50s, came to Baicheng in 2019 to join the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program. His team improved soil conditions, achieving sapling survival rates of 80–90%.

The project has used drip irrigation and planted intercropping crops such as melon, herbaceous peony and peony to improve soil quality. Local companies have also invested, boosting green development.

The initiative has created jobs for more than 3,000 villagers, who earn 120–150 yuan ($16–21) per day, with annual incomes reaching up to 50,000 yuan.

Zhang plans to expand to 3,300 hectares and develop products such as acid jujube tea and juice.

(By Tang Yuxian)