The Jixuan desert existed on the southern side of the planet Ryloth. During the Clone Wars in 21 BBY, as the Galactic Republic attempted to liberate the world from the grip of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi's Republic troops successfully secured the Jixuan desert. This victory followed battles against the Separatist Droid Army in Nabat and nearby villages. By taking the desert, the Republic effectively gained control of Ryloth's southern half.
The Jixuan desert first appeared as a holographic projection in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television show episode "Liberty on Ryloth." This episode, the twenty-first of the first season, was broadcast on March 13, 2009.