In view of the serious water shortage at the southern edge of Tenggli Desert, the authors carried out conventional resistivity sounding. The resistivity sounding curves are interpreted qualitatively, quantitatively and in detailed by comprehensive geological, hydrogeological and electrical characteristics. It is concluded that the Neogene strata with resistivity of about 25 Ω·m are sandstone, sand gravel is relatively thick and mudstone is relatively thin, suggesting that this horizon is the target horizon in search for cranny pore water of clastic rock in this area. The drilling results show that the conventional resistivity sounding method, which is portable and economical, can be used to find groundwater in the arid desert area of Alxa with severe water shortage.