Drought in China's Inner Mongolia

Frontier defense soldiers clean the quicksand in front of their barracks in Ejin Qi of Alxa, western part of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region May 6, 2006. Alxa, with an area of 250,000 square kilometers and an annual rainfall less than 100 millimetres, is renowned for its Gobi areas and Badain Jaran desert, Tengger desert as well as Ulan Buh desert in China. Heavy drought and more than 20 times of heavy sandstorms hit Alxa this year, causing big problems for locals' stock raising.

Herds of camels walk in the Gobi area of Ejin Qi of Alxa, western part of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region May 6, 2006. Alxa, with an area of 250,000 square kilometers and an annual rainfall less than 100 millimetres, is renowned for its Gobi areas and Badain Jaran desert, Tengger desert as well as Ulan Buh desert in China. Heavy drought and more than 20 times of heavy sandstorms hit Alxa this year, causing big problems for locals' stock raising.

The lakebed is seriously chapped in Ejin Qi of Alxa, western part of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region May 6, 2006. Alxa, with an area of 250,000 square kilometers and an annual rainfall less than 100 millimetres, is renowned for its Gobi areas and Badain Jaran desert, Tengger desert as well as Ulan Buh desert in China. Heavy drought and more than 20 times of heavy sandstorms hit Alxa this year, causing big problems for locals' stock raising.

Sandstorm hits Juyanhai area in Ejin Qi of Alxa, western part of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region May 4, 2006. Alxa, with an area of 250,000 square kilometers and an annual rainfall less than 100 millimetres, is renowned for its Gobi areas and Badain Jaran desert, Tengger desert as well as Ulan Buh desert in China. Heavy drought and more than 20 times of heavy sandstorms hit Alxa this year, causing big problems for locals' stock raising.

Locals plant trees near the edge of Badain Jaran desert in Alxa, western part of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region May 4, 2006. Alxa, with an area of 250,000 square kilometers and an annual rainfall less than 100 millimetres, is renowned for its Gobi areas and Badain Jaran desert, Tengger desert as well as Ulan Buh desert in China. Heavy drought and more than 20 times of heavy sandstorms hit Alxa this year, causing big problems for locals' stock raising.