Tarim Huyang Poplar Forest Park

Chinese Name: 塔里木胡杨林公园（Talimu Hu Yang Lin Gong Yuan）
Location: dessert Road, Luntai Town, Bayinguoleng Prefecture, Xinjiang.
Ticket: Entrance ticket CNY45.00, mini train CNY30.00
Estimated tour time: 2-3 hours
Recommended time to visit: Mid Sep to Mid Oct
Nearby attractions: Kuche Grand Canyon, Bositeng Lake, Luoburen Village, Loulan Ancient City, etc.

LuntaiTarim Huyang Poplar Forest Park, lying at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains and the northern edge of the Tarim Basin,here is the world's largest, the densest, the best existing “tertiary living fossil”, that is the more than 40 thousand mu of natural poplar forest. Poplar forest in Tarim River Basin is a typical desert forest meadow vegetation types, distribute from upstream to downstream river valley. Although poplar forest structure is relatively simple, it has a strong zonality ecological characteristic. Dyed Sunglow or in the sunset, it gives a person with a mysterious feeling at the same time, also make people understand the vitality and hope.

The Huyang poplar forest is common desert forest meadow vegetation in the Tarim Basin, growing from upper to lower reaches of the Tarim River valley. In spite of a rather simple structure, clearly the forest has ecological markings of the bio-zone in which it grows. The Tarim Basin boasts the world’s largest area of natural Huyang poplar forest and this roadside forest of over 2,700 hectares is merely a small part of the whole. The forest grows along the meandering course of the silt-laden Tarim River, and stretches to the remote horizon. There is a beautiful small lake in the forest where waterfowl including swans from the silty Tarim river find nesting grounds. Hares and corsac foxes compete with hawks for the many rabbits burrowing in the poplars' roots.

Luntai Huyang Poplar Forest ParkHuyang poplars are called "most beautiful" in the local Uighur dialect, but that may more accurately be termed "most hardy". Huyang poplars grow only in the desert and have always been engaged in struggle with it. Faced with cruel broiling heat and drought, only these diversiform-leaved poplars still stand in the desert, brimming with energy and life force. It is also acclaimed as the “desert hero” because of its unyielding life force and amazing ability to endure drought, sandstorms, and saline and alkali soils. Folk have made heroes of them for their ability to grow erect for a thousand years, live for a thousand years after falling, and life and remain undying after death for another thousand years.

In autumn, Huyang poplars in the wild dress in their most splendid attire of the year. Mid-October is the ideal time to visit Luntai, when the poplars put on a riotous yellow show of dying leaves. In fact, all the shades towards crimson turn up in the endless sweep of Luntai Huyang Poplar Forest Parkbranches, particularly among the red willow and oleaster, but deep yellow prevails, lending the forest an eerily beautiful glow. Those few weeks in October are one of nature's great affirmations that abundance can come from desolation. The sturdy trunks and gigantic crowns manifest that they have stored up enough energy. The poplars will withstand the harsh approaching winter with their tenacity and vigor.