In our country, the area east of Harbin-Lanzhou-Lhasa enjoys annual precipitation more than 500 mm and totals 5 million square kilometers, taking up about 50% of the total land area of China . Within this area, except the residential, industrial and mining areas, water network areas, grain-producing areas, pasture areas and a few pieces of virgin forest there is about 2.5 million square kilometers of mountainous region (referred to as “ desolate mountainous region ” by me), which has very low utilization rate and economic value and is the place where we can make artificial cultivated land. In addition, the southern slope of Altay, the southern and northern slope of Tianshan Mountain and the southern slope of Gangdise (what I call the “ three hillsides ” ) total an area of about 500,000 square kilometers, which is also an area suitable for making artificial cultivated land because of the strategic importance of the locations. In total, the area for making artificial cultivated land (the desolated mountainous region plus the three hillsides) is about 3 million square kilometers.
Within the 3 million square kilometer area, we will select 1.334 million square kilometer (2 billion mu) with better conditions for making artificial cultivated land using the artificial soil technology and engineering agricultural technique. For example, we will choose the slopes facing the sun or the east or west slopes or gentle slopes and the middle and lower part of the mountains close to the residential areas or areas suitable for setting up new residential areas. Besides, water sources, transportation, power grid, raw materials and etc should also be considered.