On September 23, 2020, Alxa Desert-oasis Grassland Scientific Observation and Research Station (hereinafter referred to as Alxa Station) and Inner Mongolia Desert Ecological and Meteorological Observation and Research Station was co-established by Lanzhou University, Forestry and Grassland Bureau of Alxa League and Meteorological Bureau of Alxa League. The signing and inauguration ceremony was held in Bayanhot City, Alxa League. Chen Junlai, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of Forestry and Grassland Bureau of Alxa League, Han Bo, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of Meteorological Bureau of Alxa League and Li Chunjie, Associate Dean of College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University signed the co-establishment agreement as representatives of the three parties. The Alxa Station was unveiled together by Wang Zhufang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of Science and Technology Bureau, Alxa League, Mao Zenghai, Deputy Director of Forestry and Grassland Bureau, Alxa League, Zhang Silian, Deputy Director of Meteorological Bureau, Alxa League, Qiu Shengyu, Deputy Director of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Bureau, Alxa League, Zhao Changming, Chief of Scientific Observation Station Management Center and Associate Dean of Institute of Science and Technology Development.

Alxa Desert-oasis GrasslandScientific Observation and Research Station, Lanzhou University

Comprehensive Desert and Grassland Observation Field

Lanzhou University Alxa Desert-oasis GrasslandScientific Observation and Research Station

Grassland and Animal Husbandry Balance Testing Ground

Alxa Station, formerly known as “Lanzhou University Alxa Desert Experimental Station”, was founded in 1998. It is located in Left Alxa League, Inner Mongolia autonomous region. The region has a temperate continental arid climate with an average annual temperature of 8℃, annual precipitation of 80-150 mm, annual evaporation of 3,000-4,000 mm, and frost-free period of 120-180 days. The main vegetation consists of typical xerophytic and super xerophytic shrubs and semi-shrubs, accompanied by certain drought-tolerant herbs. It has typical arid desert shrub grassland with brown desert soil. At present, according to the One Station, Multiple Fields (Sites) model of Alxa Station, over 20 long-term fixed observation sample fields and five integrated testing grounds have been established in the area, which helps to accumulate extensive data, complete a number of national and provincial research projects, obtain a batch of scientific research achievements, publish two research monographs and close to one hundred academic journals papers at home and abroad.

Alxa Station makes use of typical arid desert grassland and oasis-grassland as research objects. Based upon ecological protection and sustainable utilization of the acid area, the main research conducted includes ecosystem structure and stability, ecosystem multifunctionality and adaptive management, ecosystem response of ecosystems to global climate change, rehabilitation of degraded grasslands and biodiversity conservation, reasonable development of desert biological resources, etc. The three parties all said that they would adhere to the “win-win, complementarity and common development” principle, and built around the establishment of Alxa Station, the advantageous resources from each party will be reasonably allocated to co-establish a comprehensive open service platform which for “scientific observation and research, technology demonstration, achievements transformation and resource sharing”, to achieve great-leap-forward development of the research of Alxa Desert-oasis Grassland, and make contributions to arid ecological protection and rational utilization of China.Zhuang Guanghui, Chief of Alxa League Grassland Station, Chen Xiaofeng, Chief of Operations Department and Wang Duomin, Chief of Climatical, Ecological and Environmental Assessment Center, Meteorological Bureau, Alxa League, Hu Shengde and Yang Limin, Deputy Directors of Technology and Grassland Science Bureau, Left Alxa League, Yue Fang, Deputy Director of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Bureau, Left Alxa League, Professor Fu Hua, Professor Niu Decao and Associate Professor Li Xudong of our faculty all attended the signing and inauguration ceremony.