Chinese researchers plan to traverse northwest China's Badain Jaran Desert, the world's fourth largest, later this month, said a leader of the expedition team Thursday.

"The team consists of 35 members. They will start from the Guaizi Lake of Ejina Banner in Inner Mongolia on September 16 and cross the desert from north to south," said Professor Wang Nai'ang, president of the Resources and Environment School of Lanzhou University, who is in charge of the expedition.

He said the total distance to be covered by the expedition was about 350 kilometers, and would take approximately two weeks.

The expeditionary team would be drawn from the Gansu-based university, a sand-control research institute in the province, and other organizations, he said.

Wang said this expedition would traverse the northwestern Badain Jaran Desert, where a 10,000-square-kilometers area has not before been trodden by human feet.

"Badain Jaran," meaning Mongolian in the local dialect, covers 49,200 square kilometers in north China's Inner Mongolia and Gansu. The desert is the world's second largest area of shifting sands next to Taklamakan Desert, also in China.

Wang said the team would carry out scientific research to develop a better understanding of the desert.

(Xinhua News Agency September 11, 2009)