The local authorities are pursuing a what's known as the "321 project." It plans to plant 300,000 mu (20,000 hectares) of grapes, 200,000 mu (13,000 hectares) of other economic plants including apples and 100,000 mu (6,666 hectares) of vegetables in the next five years.

Nan Wuzheng, Director of Hongsipu Development Zone, said Hongsipu aims to become the largest ecological area, base for grape production, and water-saving demonstration area in Ningxia.

Barren land

Ningxia has a particular geographic situation. It is threatened by desertification, with sand accounting for 57 percent of the total territory of the region.

The northern part of Ningxia, especially that along the Yellow River, is relatively well off, as it is blessed with gravity irrigation from the Yellow River. However, the central part of the region suffers from severe drought nearly every year, while the southern mountainous area is plagued not only by drought but also by frequent natural disasters and a shortage of resources.

Hongsipu is also located in the central dry area. To make it a livable place, the government spent 2 billion yuan ($293 million) on diverting water from the Yellow River.

"A lot of farmers are used to living in the poor places where their ancestors have been living for centuries. If the government did not guide them to pursue a better life, they would have no idea of what the outside world was," said Chen Jianguo, Secretary of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Regional Party Committee. Chen said it was the government's responsibility to create a better life for the people.

Chen cited a few advantages of ecological migration. First, the migration destination has abundant water supplies facilitated by the government. Second, the lands are more productive than in poor areas. Third, the migrants have more opportunities to work in companies and enterprises to earn extra money in addition to farming proceeds.

Copying the successful model of Hongsipu, Ningxia has set up a number of other migration destinations, including Zhenbeipu, Sunjiatan, Ganchengzi, and Yueya Lake. The government is moving people to the migration zones step by step.

Wang Zhengwei, Governor of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, said there are 200,000 more people in Ningxia who must be relocated to places with suitable living conditions. He said it will take another five years to move those people to environmentally agreeable areas.