Can the Kubuqi Desert in northern China become another Dubai?

Kubuqi Desert

Located in northern China, the Kubuqi Desert shares a few undeniable similarities with Dubai: gardens, lakes, pavilions and trees, to name a few. Miao Gengxi, who is in charge of the Kubuqi International Desert Park, is very familiar with these overlaps. But Dubai is a coastal city, Miao concedes. 

Miao witnessed the gradual transformation of the desert, and in particular the Qixing Lake Desert Hotel. As the only hotel built in the Chinese desert, it has accommodated more than 40 foreign politicians.

With a design style similar to that of the Abu Dhabi palace, the hotel was built with a total investment of about 1 billion yuan. It boasts solar energy, hot springs and a total construction area of 39,840 square meters.

Kubuqi International Desert Park

Local government is now thinking about how to recreate Dubai’s feeling of an oasis in the desert.

According to the government's plans, a natural history museum, science and technology museum, art museum and national convention center will eventually be constructed in the area.

Qixing Lake Desert Hotel