Abstract: Based on vegetation, climate, and soil, China’s deserts may be subdivided into three types: semi-desert (steppefied desert), true desert (typical desert) and extremly-arid desert. Each of these form a subzone of its own. From the southeast to the northwest, a series of subzone may be found: semi-desert-southeastern part of true desert-extremely-arid desert-northwestern part of true desert.Climatically, the semi-desert is semi-arid (with precipitation of 200—100mm), while the true desert is arid (100—50mm) and the extremelyarid desert is exceedingly arid (50mm).Due to the limiting factor of lack of water to all life processes and productive activities in desert areas, the possibilities and peculiarities of economic exploitation of the three types are different. For example, in semi-deserts, shifting sand dunes can be fixed by aerial seeding, but it is very difficult to do so in true deserts and impossible in extremely-arid deserts. In true deserts, the sand dunes might naturely be covered with grasses and herbs, but in extremely-arid deserts this never happens. Though the natural conditions of the latter are harsh and severe, if water is available, good agricultural harvests can be obtained.