Ordos Engbei Tourist Area

Ordos Engbei Tourist Area

The Ordos Engbei Tourist Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

"Engbei" means auspicious. Located in the Dalad Banner section of the Kubuqi Desert in the hinterland of Ordos City, it is 60 kilometers from Baotou. Historically, this area was once covered with lush grass and teeming with livestock. Later, due to vegetation destruction, it gradually became desertified. In 1989, China and Germany implemented a wind power project here. In 1990, Professor Yasuo Faran led volunteers to come and combat desertification. To date, he has mobilized thousands of Japanese citizens to plant 2 million trees.

Engbei is located in Wulan Township, Dalad Banner, within the hinterland of the Kubuqi Desert in Ordos City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, covering a total area of 300,000 mu, all of which was previously desertified land. Today, it has been designated by the National Environmental Protection Agency as a national ecological construction demonstration zone, renowned both domestically and internationally, and filled with legendary stories.

"Engbei" is a Mongolian term meaning peace and auspiciousness. Historically, it was a place with abundant water and grass, beautiful scenery, and served as the economic and cultural center of the region. Here lie the silent bricks and tiles of the Qin and Han dynasties; here stands the Xiyuan City built by Mu Guiying during her western campaign; here was the base camp of Ayaoersena, the leader of the famous "Duguilong" movement in modern Chinese history; here rest the loyal spirits of five hundred anti-Japanese soldiers; here the "Heavenly Mystic Stone" stirs the imagination; here the "Dragon Spring Holy Water" refreshes the body and mind; here the Engbei Temple once had perpetually lit lamps... However, war, floods, deforestation, and over-farming eventually allowed the yellow sand to erase the scenery, driving herders away from the grasslands and farmers from their homes. By 1989, before the establishment of the Engbei Demonstration Zone, the 300,000 mu of land had almost no inhabitants.

Elder proletarian revolutionaries such as Wan Li and Zhang Pinghua learned about the development here through various channels; former member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee — personally came to inspect and plant trees here. In 1990, Professor Yasuo Faran, honorary professor at Tottori University in Japan and president of the Desert Greening Practice Association, led his volunteer team to Engbei to plant trees in his advanced years, bringing international recognition to Engbei’s development. Currently, the demonstration zone has planted 3 million trees, over 30,000 mu of shrubs, and 50,000 mu of grass; developed 12,000 mu of land through flood diversion, planted over 1,000 mu of cash crops, established two vineyards totaling 80 mu, a 100-mu garden, a 300-mu grass seed base, and a 250-mu nursery. The vegetation coverage rate has increased from 5% to 40%. Three water storage dams have been built using gullies, with a total water storage capacity of 3 million cubic meters, effectively controlling sand hazards and completely eradicating water disasters. The improved ecological environment has driven the development of the sand industry and tourism. The newly cultivated Engbei breed of white cashmere goats has been hailed by experts as the most promising goat breed in China; ostrich farming, known as the "superstar" of the livestock industry, has become the leading sector of Engbei’s sand industry, with a population exceeding 10,000, making it the largest breeding base in North and Northwest China; sand-loving plants such as licorice, wild onion, wild mustard, and bitter greens have become popular green foods entering the market.

Engbei has now developed into a famous tourist area that integrates the viewing of desert rare birds and animals, desert landscapes, ecological agriculture, sand plants, and comprehensive visitor services. The lonely smoke over the desert, the setting sun over the long river, the blue water and sky, the green trees and fresh breeze, historical culture, and heroic deeds together form the rich cultural phenomena and tourism resources of Engbei, attracting thousands of tourists who come here by name.