According to the local government, the improvement along the riverbanks has led to changes in other areas of the prefecture. Forest, covering 18.3 percent of the prefecture, is concentrated mostly in four counties.

Since 2008, people in the prefecture have planted 46,000 hectares of forest. In the past two years, the prefecture controlled the expansion of desertification or reversed more than 10,000 hectares of desertification.

Statistics show the number of moving and half-moving sand hills of more than 1 square kilometer in the prefecture reduced by two-thirds so far.

Sandstorms have not caused traffic jams on the No 101 provincial road for years.

Meanwhile, the operation of the regions' airport has become less affected by sandy wind.

In many agricultural areas that had been seriously affected by the hazard, crop yields have doubled.

Zhou said the bureau aims to increase forestation to 19.2 percent by 2015.

The local forestation industry would then be worth 300 million yuan ($48 million) and generate more than 150 million yuan in income for farmers and herdsmen.

Tsering Gyatso, a farmer replanting botanicals blown out of the soil by winter winds, earns 50 yuan a day.

"I hope the bushes and trees can survive the harsh winter, but we don't have enough water," he said, as the pipes had frozen.

"I'll try my best."

Contact the writer at wanghuazhong@chinadaily.com.cn