HOHHOT, Jan. 19 -- Construction of a national desert park has began in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, according to the local forestry department.
The park will be located in the heartland of the one-million-hectare Ulan Buh Desert, the eighth largest of China. With a planned area of 353 hectares, it is expected to be completed by 2032, a spokesperson with the department said on Sunday.
The park is designed to become a tourist destination showcasing and promoting knowledge of the desert ecosystem, said the spokesperson.
The local authorities have been working to restore the desert to arable land, with a 191-km-long swath of forest set up on its eastern edge to prevent the desert from expanding.
PLA soldiers operating vehicle-mounted guns in drill
Beauties dancing on the rings
Blind carpenter in E China's Jiangxi
Top 10 highest-paid sports teams in the world
In photos: China's WZ-10 armed helicopters
UFO spotted in several places in China
Certificates of land title of Qing Dynasty and Republic of China 
Cute young Taoist priest in Beijing
New film brings Doraemon's life story to China in 3D
China-S.Korea FTA sets positive precedent
Ferry carrying 458 people sinks in Yangtze River
Mecca of Marxism
Bring them homeDay|Week
