Like the Great Wall of China, the Green Wall of China (also called the Green Great Wall) is a defensive bulwark against unwanted intrusion from the north. Today, however, the unwanted invader is not a Mongol horde but the Gobi Desert, which has expanded south in recent decades. 

Today, a newly eco-conscious China has initiated scores of large-scale environmental projects to undo some of the damage incurred during China's version of the Industrial Revolution. Easily reached from Beijing, the project extends into Inner Mongolia and is becoming a tourist attraction in its own right, especially among cycle tour groups who often combine a visit to the Great Green Wall with explorations of its ancient counterpart.

Those interested in supporting reforestation and anti-desertification efforts in China should contact Roots & Shoots, one of China's model environmental organizations.