[2] The line has 180 bridges and 1,000 tunnels and underpasses, including passage ways for Mongolian gazelle in the 300 km (186 mi) of wilderness from Wuliji to Ejin.
[4] Sand storms occur in the region on as many as 230 days per year, with sustained gusts reaching Level 11 on the Beaufort Scale.
[6] In the first year of operations, over 10,000 workers were mobilized and ¥71 million was spent to clear track, spread sand-control netting, build sand-restraint devices, and plant trees.
[4] Sand storms have reduced effective speed on eight sections of track between Suhongtu to Swan Lake to 25 km/h (16 mph).
[4] When passenger service began in November 2010, a 1,100 km (684 mi) journey from Hohhot to Ejin took 14 hours and 55 minutes.