Track-laying work continues on the Hotan-Ruoqiang railway in the Taklimakan Desert, China's largest desert, despite the freezing weather. Temperatures in the Taklimakan Desert have dropped to -20 degrees Celsius. The 825-km railway passes through the southern region of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Construction of the railway began in late 2018. It's expected to be put into service in June 2022, with a designed speed of 120 km/h.