The people who live here on the Yellow Earth Plateau face a desolate wasteland. It's hardly rained for years and each family has to make do with one and a half buckets of water a day. They keep their wells locked. Overpopulation and a parched climate has forged deep cracks in the only arable land available. Life revolves around the Yellow River which takes its name from the 500 million tons of yellow dust blown into it every year. It cuts a green, iridescent arc across the barren plains. The encroaching desert, however, has prompted the Chinese government to re-settle nearly one million people. Ironically they move from old desert homes to new desert homes. The only difference in the new location is an irrigation system pumped from the river. They literally dig their land and shelters out of the sand. Having relocated them the government intends to recoup the costs of resettlement through taxes. But as their children slide down sand dunes on trays, the settlers remain optimistic. With water available, they dream of building an oasis in the wilderness.

Produced by ABC Australia