Part of the desert is in the southern region of Mongolia. It starts south of Dalandzadgad along Mongolia's border with China, and extends up to the Atlay region in the east and Baruun-Urt in the west.
In China, the desert extends from the Altun Shan region in the west to the Da Hinggan Ling region in the east.
The eastern Gobi Desert Steppe is between the Chinese and Mongolian borders. The Alashan Plateau semi-desert sits in the southeastern region, which is mainly within China. The Gobi Lakes Valley Desert Steppe is within the southern area of central Mongolia. The Dzungarian Basin region in the west and the Tian Shan range are both in China.
The desert expands at a rate of over 1500 square km per year due to desertification. This process causes areas surrounding the desert to dry out, which makes them infertile and desert-like. In 2003, the Chinese government launched the ''green wall of china'' program that added trees and lush, fertile areas around the desert edges. The trees provide a wind break, and the low-lying vegetation blocks the spread of desertification.
