In a remarkable feat of engineering, Chinese engineers have completed a railway encircling the Taklimakan Desert, known as the ‘Sea of Death’. The Taklimakan, located in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is the world’s second-largest shifting sand desert, notorious for its harsh conditions and treacherous sandstorms.
The new railway stretches around the perimeter of the desert, connecting previously isolated regions and providing a significant boost to local economies. Construction teams faced extreme temperatures, shifting sands, and limited water resources. Despite these challenges, they employed innovative techniques to stabilize the tracks, including planting vegetation to prevent sand erosion and using advanced materials resistant to harsh desert conditions.
The completion of the railway marks a new chapter in China’s infrastructure development, enhancing transportation networks in the country’s western regions. This project is expected to facilitate trade, promote tourism, and improve the livelihoods of local communities, particularly the Uygur and other ethnic groups residing in the area.
By overcoming the formidable natural barriers of the Taklimakan Desert, China demonstrates its commitment to integrating remote regions into the national framework, fostering economic growth, and enhancing connectivity across Asia.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
