URUMQI, June 28 (Xinhua) -- In northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, hundreds of thousands of roses bloom in the sunbaked desert, acting as windbreaks.

On Nov. 28, 2024, a green belt stretching 3,046 kilometers around China's largest desert, the Taklimakan, was completed thanks to a national afforestation program. The final plant added to this "green Great Wall" was a rose bush.

"We cheered that day, saying, 'The desert is locked.' We were overjoyed," said Bumaramhan Matusun, a farmer in Oytograk Township, which is located in Hotan Prefecture's Yutian County.

The aroma of roses permeated her childhood, she said, recalling the vibrant flowers that decorated her family's courtyard. But today, planting roses has taken on a new meaning for her. "Seeing them thrive makes me proud, as we are protecting our homeland from encroaching sand dunes."

Situated on the southern edge of the desert, Yutian has a long history of rose cultivation. Among local sand control efforts, communities have successfully cultivated drought-resistant and highly adaptable rose varieties suited to their local desert conditions.

"With their dense foliage and robust root systems, roses can effectively reduce wind speed, tackle desertification and control soil erosion," said Jia Cunpeng, vice president of the county's forestry and grassland bureau.

Yutian has planted nearly 80,000 mu (about 5,333 hectares) of roses, which serve as both ecological guardians and cash crops. The county has built a full-fledged rose economy where fragrance becomes income.

Raziya Matturzi has worked as a lab tester at Xinjiang Yutian Guimi Bio-technology Co., Ltd. for six years. Armed with the free planting guidance her company provides, she rejoiced to see the roses in her family's 10-mu field improve significantly in both yield and quality.

After over a decade of development, Guimi's planting base now sprawls 6,800 mu, producing 225 tonnes of roses last year. These flowers, together with an additional 60 tonnes purchased from local farmers, were processed into sauces, hydrolates and other products.

"Consumers are becoming more health-conscious, and we will upgrade our farming skills and production technologies, and double down on research and development to better cater to market preferences," said Gao Jingliang, executive vice general manager of Guimi.

Mahmut Tohti, chair of a farming company, said that the firm has secured a contract to reclaim 15,000 mu of desertified land, 3,500 mu of which has already been transformed into rose fields, and over 10,000 mu of which has been planted with pistachio trees.

"Our processing facility for rose products, including sauces, teas and essential oils, is currently under construction, and product lines will hit the market in May next year," he said.

Yutian has emerged as a rose processing hub, now home to dozens of manufacturers that have developed over 70 value-added rose products. And the county is fostering cooperation between enterprises and research institutes to develop more competitive market offerings.

In addition to an increasingly diverse product portfolio, Yutian is also moving to merge its rose industry with tourism. The region now hosts an annual rose culture tourism festival, featuring activities such as music and dance performances, cultural exhibitions, rose-themed experiences, gourmet food tasting events, agricultural product fairs and sports events.

Cai Xianfu, Party secretary of Aral Township, said that Aral has expanded its rose cultivation area by 18,000 mu this year. "When the roses mature, we will introduce homestay businesses, photoshoot tour companies, and a mountain biking trail that weaves through the blossoms," he said.

It takes a lot of work to grow a single rose, and for Bumaramhan Matusun, who works 10-hour days in the desert winds, this fact is evidenced by her cracked hands and sunburned cheeks.

"Although it's hard to plant roses in the desert, I wouldn't have it any other way. Roses haven't just boosted our incomes -- they've also sweetened our lives," she said. ■