Herders in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region have begun their annual winter camel migration, guiding thousands of Bactrian camels from remote desert grazing grounds to warmer, safer pastures. In Alxa League, teams are venturing deep into the Badain Jaran and Ulan Buh deserts in pickup trucks and on motorbikes, travelling hundreds of kilometres to gather animals that were released for free-range summer grazing.

More than 2,000 camels spent the warmer months roaming the desert, and as temperatures fall, they are brought back to sheltered enclosures for supplementary feeding; both to shield them from severe weather and to allow fragile desert vegetation to recover. The roundup is demanding work – veteran herders track footprints and droppings across vast, sparse terrain, often making multiple 200-kilometre round trips over the course of a month.

This long-standing herding tradition keeps Alxa’s camel population strong while supporting the region’s flourishing camel milk and wool industries. Today, Alxa League is home to 169,000 Bactrian camels, making it an exceptional destination for camel spotting and for experiencing the striking beauty of China’s desert landscapes.

Source: China Central Television