Amongst the European explorers who contributed to early 20th century understanding of the Gobi, the most important were:*Jean-François Gerbillon (1688–1698)*Eberhard Isbrand Ides (1692–1694)*Lorenz Lange (1727–1728 and 1736)*Fuss and Alexander G. von Bunge (1830–1831)*Hermann Fritsche (1868–1873)*Pavlinov and Z.L.
Do začetka 20. stoletja je bilo to območje pod nadzorom Manchujev in Kitajske in naseljen predvsem z Mongoli, Ujguri in Kazahstanci.