Our tour guide invited us to her parent-in-laws farm just outside the oasis town of Dunhuang.  Interestingly, the farms produced mainly cotton and grapes.  Yes, that’s right! In the middle of a desert, farmers were growing cotton and grapes (which require a lot of water) because the government gives out generous subsidies. 

The family even cooked us lunch.  With their grandson running around in a simple kitchen while using an outside wok, they prepared a tasty feast.  The delicious dishes never stopped coming.  We eventually had to ask them to stop because we couldn’t eat one more bite!

I decided to take a walk through the village and farm land after lunch.  This region is so beautiful with the green trees and freshly planted seeds considering the massive sand dunes which linger in the far off distance.  The houses looked worn down but the people who lived there were incredibly kind.

China never ceases to amaze me.  On the outskirts of the Gobi Desert, an oasis town can thrive.  With large buildings and schools the people make due when a sandstorm hits.  Farmers work long hours to grow cash crops…successfully!  As I left the farm house, I turned around to catch one last glimpse.  Cotton floated in the spring time air as the sun shown down on me.