Desert vegetation within the Shiyang River Basin of China plays an important role in mitigating the convergence of the Badain Jaran and Tengger Deserts. It plays a vital role in maintaining the ecological security of the regional oasis. A comprehensive understanding of the types, distribution, and survival of desert vegetation in the Shiyang River Basin was pursued through a multiyear field survey aided by satellite images. This endeavor classified desert vegetation types, draw vegetation distribution maps, and analyze the quantitative characteristics of typical desert vegetation communities. These findings serve as a basis for the conservation and sustainable use of desert vegetation and its species diversity in the Shiyang River Basin. The study yielded the following key insights: (1) The Shiyang River Basin boasts diverse desert vegetation types, organized into 4 vegetation type groups, 6 vegetation types, 7 vegetation subtypes, and 40 vegetation groups. These exhibit typical desert and steppe desert characteristics. The spatial distribution of desert vegetation within the basin considerably varies. The eastern part predominantly features drifting sands and a homogeneous vegetation type, while the northern part is characterized by a rich distribution of Gobi areas interspersed with different vegetation types and species composition. (2) The species composition of desert vegetation in the Shiyang River Basin is considerably rich, encompassing 486 species in 255 genera of 57 families, mainly consisting of temperate desert plants, perennial herbs, annual herbs, and shrubs, accounting for 49.59%, 25.31%, and 18.93% of the total number of species, respectively. The desert vegetation structure in the Shiyang River Basin is simple, with shrubs and semi-shrubs often serving as community-building species. (3) The number of dominant species within typical plant communities in the Shiyang River Basin varies considerably. These communities exhibit species richness ranging from 2.1 to 16.3, with an average of 7.6 species. The Reaumuria songarica+Nitraria sphaerocarpa community is the richest, with 16.3 species. Following closely is the Caroxylon passerinum+Nitraria sphaerocarpa+Kalidium cuspidatum community, which encompasses 14.5 species. Conversely, the Nitraria tangutorum, Sympegma regelii, Kalidium foliatum, and Artemisia ordosica communities had the lowest number of species, with 2.7, 2.6, 2.1, and 2.6 species, respectively. In summary, the Shiyang River Basin harbors diverse desert vegetation types and a rich variety of constituent species. However, community cover, species richness, and diversity index are low. Therefore, the protection and restoration of desert vegetation and its fragile habitats should be strengthened to maintain the diversity, stability, and sustainability of the desert ecosystem while harnessing its full ecological protection potential.