The Gansu corridor links the province to China proper, through the Gobi Desert. It is the largest desert in all China. The extent of the deserts in Eastern Turkistan is but the most dramatic demonstration of the dryness of the climate. Far from any ocean, Eastern Turkistan receives little rain. Its winters are cold and summers hot.
Sandstorms are frequent.
But for the rivers, fed by melting snow found on the surrounding mountains, much of Eastern Turksitan would be completely unlivable. Natural Resources Agriculture in the province depends on irrigation fed by rivers flowing from the mountains and oases. Crops include winter and spring wheat, corn, rice and millet. The province is one of China's biggest producers of livestock. Large numbers of sheep, cattle, horses, goats, donkeys, camels, mules and yaks are to be found grazing on the provinces vast natural grasslands.