Tents are scattered across the grassland at Luqu County, Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Gansu, on July 22, 2013. [Photo/IC]

Local herdsmen are encouraged to plant grass so they can feed cattle and sheep rather than let them chew natural grass. The Finance Ministry also allocates fodder subsidies to herdsmen. Traditional animal husbandry has gradually been modernized.

Since 2003, 23 cities and counties in Gansu have joined the project. Over the years, the high and thick grassland was restored. In Minqin county, vegetation coverage doubled to 40 percent in seven years.

The good ecological environment draws wild animals, which is a new headache. "Herdsmen often come to complain that wild oxen lure cattle away or wild donkeys steal grass from livestock," said Wei Hong, an official of Chiwan village, Subei county.