Abstract: The Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), situated in a prototypical arid region of China, has achieved notable success in saline-alkali land management through the continuous application and innovation of state-of-the-art technologies. Its governance pathway provides an exemplary model for soil restoration across the country, significantly contributing to agricultural sustainability and food security. This paper presents a systematic review of the phased characteristics of the XPCC's long-term efforts, tracing its progression from basic engineering to advanced system-integrated strategies. The initial phase (1950s-1970s) was characterized by extensive engineering interventions. Faced with pressing land reclamation needs, the strategy focused on physically extracting salts from the root zone via open ditch drainage networks to reduce the groundwater table, supplemented by flood irrigation to leach soluble salts. Although these foundational measures were crucial for initial salinity control, they highlighted the need for more efficient and integrated approaches. The following period (1980s-1990s) saw a strategic shift towards comprehensive improvement, incorporating both physical and chemical techniques. Leveraging the established drainage infrastructure, the approach evolved from simple irrigation and leaching to a combination of measures tailored to local conditions. These included physical practices such as deep plowing, sand-soil blending, and surface salt removal; biological measures like applying organic manure and planting green manure; and chemical/engineering methods such as using flue gas desulfurization gypsum and subsurface pipe drainage. Emerging irrigation technologies, such as film-hole furrow irrigation, also played a constructive role. This phase marked a transition from merely addressing symptoms to tackling underlying soil health issues. A revolutionary advancement occurred in 1996 with the widespread adoption of drip irrigation under plastic mulch. This technology fundamentally transformed saline-alkali land management by enabling precise and coordinated regulation of water, fertilizer, and salt within the crop root zone. The system delivers water and nutrients directly to plant roots through emitters covered by plastic film, reducing evaporation and inhibiting upward salt movement. The mulch suppresses evaporation and soil salinization while regulating soil temperature, facilitating a shift from traditional leaching to active, precise salt control. Building on this core technology, the XPCC developed six primary governance models tailored to specific conditions: the irrigation-drainage synergistic model for heavily saline land using rice cultivation; the precise salt control model for moderately saline land with drip irrigation; the water-saving salt suppression model for lightly saline land using dry seeding; the biological fertility enhancement model for compacted soils; the ecological reconstruction model utilizing brackish water and aquaculture; and the long-term management model centered on coordinated precision management of water, fertilizer, and salt. Collectively, these constitute a mature technological system centered on the water-salt-fertilizer nexus. Despite these achievements, the XPCC continues to face persistent challenges. The fragile oasis agro-ecosystem, characterized by extreme aridity, high evapotranspiration, and limited water resources, makes water management the critical factor for success. Increasing competition for water across sectors further intensifies pressure. Additionally, the limited genetic diversity of existing salt-tolerant crop varieties restricts the potential for profitable cultivation on moderate to severely saline soils, necessitating accelerated breeding programs. The technological infrastructure for real-time, intelligent monitoring and precise soil salinity management remains underdeveloped, hindering adaptive management strategies. Finally, there is a notable absence of a holistic framework for enhancing overall productivity, as current approaches often focus on individual components rather than integrating land improvement, crop production, and ecosystem stability. To address these challenges, future strategies must shift towards more integrated, intelligent, and ecologically balanced approaches, ultimately realizing and promoting a "Water-Land-Sand-Crop-Energy" penta-synergistic governance model. By adopting such a comprehensive approach, the XPCC can overcome current obstacles and establish a globally leading model for transforming saline-alkali lands from marginal resources into productive assets, contributing to global food security and agricultural resilience in the face of climate change.