Why China's desert is growing wheat in perfect circles

Along the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert, farmers are sowing 35,000 mu (over 23 square kilometers) of winter wheat across fields of perfect circles. Why circles? Because of the sprinklers. A long arm rotates around a central point, pulling water from Kunlun Mountain snowmelt and spreading it evenly over land that used to be rolling sand dunes. It uses far less water than flooding the fields. The soil is poor and sandy, so farmers rotate wheat with oats or alfalfa– crops that hold the sand down, feed the soil and feed livestock too. And the tractors are guided by BeiDou, China's own satellite navigation system. It's all part of a bigger push to turn desert into farmland. Planting wraps up around October 20. #coolchina #farmland 📺 Subscribe to our YouTube channel and stay updated with our latest analysis and interviews:👇 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgrNz-aDmcr2uuto8_DL2jg 👈 Download our APP on Apple Store (iOS): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cctvnews-app/id922456579?l=zh&ls=1&mt=8 Download our APP on Google Play (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.imib.cctv For more: https://www.cgtn.com/video Most watched videos: Impossible Challenge: 30 seconds to count banknotes BLINDFOLDED https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmP_Ybj-jws Impossible Challenge: Gymnastics Boy Arat Hosseini from Iran! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sxX--U4c8w Impossible Challenge: How to calm babies in 5 seconds? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR3q9sXM7WA