Storyline: Xinjiang transforms desert into farmland with snowmelt irrigation [Voice_over] In the past decade, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has transformed parts of its vast desert region into fertile farmland that's fueling a thriving grain production industry. With snowmelt from the Kunlun Mountains providing ample irrigation, roughly 4,000 hectares of land in Qiemo County has been transformed into farmland where crops like corn, wheat, sunflowers, and sweet potatoes are grown. But it's only been recently that farming in the desert became a reality. [Sound_bite] Li Wenbin, Grain grower: "Back then, no one dared to think about it. The first concern was always water. If we relied on wells, we'd need hundreds, which would lower groundwater levels. Now all the irrigation water comes from the main channel, and the volume of water flowing to your land can all be calculated." [Voice_over] The glacial meltwater flows through a network of reservoirs, including the Dashimen Reservoir, where its regulated. In the past 10 years, more than 120 water control projects have been built or upgraded across the Tarim Basin, connecting its 144 tributaries to form a vast network that allows for precise water distribution. [Sound_bite] Tursun Yusup, Deputy director, Qiemo County's Water Conservancy Service Center: "In the past, snowmelt was concentrated in just three months- July, August, and September - often causing floods and waste. Now, reservoirs regulate the water supply, releasing it gradually during irrigation seasons. This ensures stable water distribution year-round and supports irrigation for far more farmland." [Voice_over] In total, the Xinjiang autonomous region has added more than 800,000 hectares of farmland in the past 10 years, making it the region with the largest growth in grain output in China. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]