[Photo by Jiang Wenyao/provided to China Daily]

It is not the first storm that Dilai has lived through, but he has never thought about leaving. Life on the grassland is all he knows.

Tuya recalled that they only had a yurt, a bed and an offering table when they got married. But their work over the years has paid off. Now their children have houses and cars in the town.

In addition to annual government subsidies of 10,000 yuan ($1,400), Dilai earns 300,000 yuan from herding.

"I am a shepherd. Herding on the grassland is my life," he said. "I won't leave my flock until I'm too old to walk or ride my horse."