Abstract: Developing and utilising desert grassland by fostering its advantage and avoiding its weaknesses has important ecological, economic and social significance. In this paper, the fundamental ecological problems and optimal objectives were analysed. The management principles were discussed with the emphasis of practising management strategies at the regional scale and using the system theory. The expansion of the artificial forage production should be considered as a driving force, and the combination of agricultural and animal husbandry is necessary for bringing the whole effect of mountain-plain-oasis compound system into full pay. That is the core of the regulation principles. The ecologically optimal model for proper grassland use of South Zhungar desert grassland region was put forward as a representative case.