Deserts of Xīnjiāng

Xīnjiāng's deserts, part of the vast Gobi, are flat dry plains criss-crossed by mountain ranges, dotted with oasis towns and villages which owe their origins to the karez - man-made subterranean tunnels which bring water down from the towering mountain ranges that cross the province. These year round suppliers of water enable a thriving agricultural sector and the amazing sight of going from sand-dunes and vegetation-less plains to crops and vineyards in very short distances.