Abstract：The Horqin Sandy Lands, located in the ecologically sensitive transitional belt between semi-arid and semi-humid climatic zones, support a complex mosaic of ecosystems characterized by inherent vulnerability and represent one of the most severely desertified regions in northern China. Despite its environmental significance, comprehensive studies that systematically integrate the biogeographical mechanisms underlying desertification with rigorous assessments of control efficacy in this region remain notably scarce. The region's comparatively substantial groundwater resources are fundamentally underpinned by an extensive and porous sandy sedimentary stratum, measuring 80 to 200 meters in thickness, which serves as a critical aquifer system. The period from 1985 to 2000 witnessed remarkable progress in desertification control, marked by a significant reversal in land degradation trends. Nevertheless, the subsequent phase post-2000 has been defined by a pronounced operational bottleneck, manifesting as a markedly decelerated rate of reduction in desertified land area and a stagnating trajectory in the recovery of biomass. In the context of ongoing climate change, the foremost challenge confronting sustainable desertification management in the Horqin Sandy Lands is escalating water resource stress, which threatens the longevity of past restoration gains and future initiatives. This review systematically synthesizes and critically evaluates a substantial body of research pertaining to the geographical foundations of ecological vulnerability, the dynamic processes and mechanisms of desertification and ecological recovery, and the intricate interrelationships between biological productivity fluxes and groundwater dynamics. By constructing a comprehensive synthesis from these diverse research strands, this review aims to elucidate the complete narrative of desertification control tracing its foundations, achievements, and contemporary challenges， thereby providing a robust theoretical framework and empirical evidence base to inform the scientific management of soil and water resources and to guide the sustainable restoration of degraded landscapes in the Horqin Sandy Lands.