A news conference, celebrating the first anniversary of the "Badain Jaran Desert: Towers of Sand and Lakes" being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, was held on Aug 6 at the Inner Mongolia Exhibition Center.

The conference praised the site, located in Alshaa League, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, for its progress in conservation and management efforts over the past year. It also hosted a series of cultural activities centered around the anniversary.

Since the site's inscription on the list, Alshaa League has advanced integrated protection and systematic governance. A dedicated management body has been established, new regulations introduced, planning and legislative work launched, and over 30 monitoring systems installed to support scientific research, improving protection and management.

Efforts have followed the principles of protective and limited development. Progress is being made in building a national 5A-level scenic area, nurturing distinctive tourism offerings, and enhancing the tourism product system. To date, the site has received over 3.83 million visitors, generating tourism income of 2.19 billion yuan ($305.44 million).

Community participation has also grown, with more than 120 rural tourism businesses supported, 148 local eco-rangers employed, and over 100 volunteers engaged in ecological protection, tourism promotion, and event support.

A photo exhibition featuring the Badain Jaran Desert also opened in Hohhot city on the same day. Running until Sept 30, the exhibits offer a comprehensive view of the site's ecological, scientific, and cultural value, and showcase Alshaa's achievements in balancing conservation and development.