I guess with the completion of this highway across taklimakan deserts, it will be easier to rehabilitate the barren into productive farmlands and beautiful forests across the taklimakan deserts. I think deserts are easier to develop than mountainous terrains in south western China. These barren deserts were formerly grasslands, probably due to climate change, it was getting drier and drier until it completely turned into barren deserts. With construction of highways and water diversion projects, this huge barren deserts can be transformed into productive farmlands and beautiful forests.
First desert highway built in 1995.520 kilometers.Minfeng to Luntai. Second highways built in 2007 between Aral and Hotan. In the past people travelling from Aral to Hotan had to go through Kashgar. Now, they saved time by using the desert road direct to Hotan. On both sides of highway are grass and scrubs grown to prevent sand storm eroding the roads. Many wells were dugged and water pumps into pipes to water the plants through sprinkle system.