The Gansu Dunhuang Xihu Wetlands are unique to the continental desert and semidesert biome and are essential for maintaining the region’s biodiversity. The Site is one of the largest inland wetlands in the arid zone of north-west China and the Central Asian Plateau, and is dominated by permanent freshwater herbaceous marshes and salt marshes. The Site features arid and hyper-arid plant species and five other habitat types: broadleaf forest, desert, salt marsh, meadow, and bog. The combination of complex topography, intermixed wetland areas and deserts, and minimal human activities help support numerous rare and threatened species including Chinese alpine steppe cat (Felis bieti) and goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa). The Site lies on the Central Asia migration route of birds such as black storks (Ciconia nigra) and Eurasian spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia). It also shelters Bactrian camel (Camelus ferus) and the Przewalski’s horse (Equus ferus), the only remaining wild horse in the world, of which the number in the Site has reached around 4% of the global population after re-introduction measures.