Geologists find unexpectedly large water sources beneath China’s largest desert - South China Morning Post
Victoria BelaPublished: 6:00pm, 16 Sep 2026Geologists have discovered two large water sources beneath China’s largest desert, potentially offering the northwestern region a vital new tap for sand-control projects and agriculture.
The groundwater discoveries were made as part of a water-finding project in the Taklamakan Desert conducted in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region by the region’s geological bureau, according to a report by CCTV Finance on Monday.
The findings challenge the perception that “there is only stagnant water and salt water underground in the desert”, according to the report.
Stagnant groundwater is a source that has slowed or stopped moving, allowing bacteria and chemicals to build up and making it unsuitable for drinking and food production.
