摘要
“The boundless grassland lies beneath the boundless skies; when the winds blow, and the grass bends low, my sheep and cattle appear before your eyes.” The Shepherd＇s Song is a classical poem dating back 1,500 years that celebrates generations of pastoral life on the Inner Mongolian prairie. But grassland scenery has changed dramatically owing to changes in the world climate, population growth and overgrazing. Of the 2,460 square kilometers of Chinese territory lost annually to desertification, 803-the largest share-are in the autonomous region. Deterioration in the region＇s environment adversely affects localities as far as 10,000 kilometers away. Inner Mongolian residents have transformed their traditional way of living and herding in order to save their homesteads from sand and dust. They now work closely with the energy, dairy and high-tech industries. This has proved a good move,as the region＇s GDP growth rate has been the highest of 32 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities on the Chinese mainland for five successive years. China Today reporter Zhang Xueying describes in this issue＇s special report on Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on its 60th anniversary, what she saw and heard on her21-day trip to all 12 of its leagues and cities.
'The boundless grassland lies beneath the boundless skies;when the winds blow,and the grass bends low,my sheep and cattle appear before your eyes.' The Shepherd’s Song is a classical poem
