Top 8 Populus Euphratica Forests in China
Populus euphratica is an ancient tree species of the Tertiary period. It grows slowly and has a long lifespan. Most of the world's Populus euphratica grows in China, and more than 90% of China's Populus euphratica forests grow in the Tarim River Basin of Xinjiang and part of Inner Mongolia.
Populus euphratica in Uyghur means "the most beautiful tree". Because of its tenacious vitality, as well as its amazing ability to resist drought, wind, sand, salt and alkali, people also call it the "heroic tree on desert". There is an old saying in China to praise this ancient tree as it "lives a thousand years after it is born, stands a thousand years after it dies, and remains imperishable for a thousand years after it falls".
Every October, Populus euphratica will change from dark green to golden yellow, just like a burning flame in the vast desert, which seems to dye the whole desert into a golden picture, making people feel the beauty of nature and the tenacity of life. Therefore, the best time to visit Populus euphratica is from late September to October. Time has left many marks on the earth, changed many scenes and taken many lives, but Populus euphratica still stands on the desert.
Quick Jump to:
- Ejina Populus Euphratica Forest, Inner Mongolia
- Jinta Populus Euphratica Forest, Gansu
- Golmud Populus Euphratica Forest, Qinghai
- Mulei Populus Euphratica Forest, Xinjiang
- Tarim Luntai Populus Euphratica Forest, Xinjiang
- Poskam Jinhuyang National Forest Park, Xinjiang
- Yiwu Naomaohu Populus Euphratica Forest, Xinjiang
- Dunhuang Xihu National Nature Reserve, Gansu
The Second Bridge in Ejina Populus Euphratica Forest
Camels in Ejina Populus Euphratica Forest
- Location: Dalaihob Town, Ejina Banner, Alxa League, Inner Mongolia
- Opening Hours: 7:30 ~ 18:00 (Sept. 1 - 25); 5:00 ~ 19:00 (Sept. 27 - Oct. 8); 7:00 ~ 19:00 (Oct. 9 - 30); 8:30 ~ 18:00 (May 20 - Aug. 31)
- Ticket: CNY 240 for 1 day, CNY 350 for 3 days (both including tourist bus)
Ejina Populus Euphratica Forest is the most famous and popular Populus euphratica forest in China. It is an important barrier to prevent the Badain Jaran Desert from spreading northward and a natural ecological treasure in Western China.
Ejina Populus Euphratica Forest consists of eight bridges (areas) and each one has their distinct features. Among them the most popular are the Second Bridge - Reflection Forest, the essence of Ejina Populus Euphratica Forest and it is a favored place for many photographers, especially for the beautiful sunrise; the Fourth Bridge - Hero Forest with the most concentrated populus euphratica where the movie Hero was shot; the Seventh Bridge - Dreamland Forest ushering the approach of autumn with leaves turning yellow at the earliest; and the Eight Bridge, which is a desert kingdom where you can take part in many desert activities and enjoy the magnificent sunset.
Recommended Ejina Populus Euphratica Forest Trips
Overlook Jinta Populus Euphratica Forest
Poplar Trees Reflected on Jinbo Lake
- Location: 6 km to the northwest of Jinta County, Jiuquan City, Gansu Province
- Opening Hours: 6:00 ~ 19:00 (July - October); 8:00 ~ 18:00 (November - June)
- Ticket: CNY 65
Jinta Populus Euphratica Forest is the largest artificial Populus euphratica forest in northwestern China. It is located in the north of the middle section of the ancient Silk Road, covering an area of more than 53.3 km². It consists of five areas: Populus Euphratica Forest-Jinbo Lake Core Tourist Area, Elaeagnus Angustifolia Forest Tourist Area, Hanhai Rose Willow Conservation Area, Desert Entertainment Experience Area and Desert Reed Labyrinth.
Jinbo Lake ripples in the sunshine and the poplar forest looks dazzling golden in autumn, together with fragrant russianolive flowers, various wild animals, soft sand beach and comfortable sunshine, they form the highlight of Jinta Populus Euphratica Forest. Visiting here, you can fully admire the desert landscape, appreciate the poplar culture, adventure in the woods… It is a tourist resort integrating ecological afforestation, wind prevention and sand fixation, catering and entertainment, photography and sightseeing, and is rated as the most beautiful place in autumn in Gansu Province.
Recommended Jinta Populus Euphratica Forest Trip
Golmud Populus Euphratica Forest and Distant Mountains
Golmud Populus Euphratica Forest on Desert
- Location: 50 km to the west of Golmud, Qinghai
- Opening Hours: All day
- Ticket: CNY 50
Golmud Populus Euphratica Forest is located in the northwest of Altunquk Grassland, in Tuole Lake area which is named after Tuola Heihe River. Tuole Lake, in Mongolian, means "a place with a lot of Populus euphratica." Golmud Populus Euphratica Forest is about 60 kilometers away from Golmud City. It is the only Populus euphratica forest in Qinghai Province and the highest in the world with an altitude of about 2780 m. Therefore, it is possible to see snow mountains on fine days. The Populus euphratica forest is close to the towering Kunlun Mountains in the south and the vast Gobi salt beach in the north, which makes it especially precious in the desertification zone. A seasonal river called Tuolahai flows from the sand and curves beautifully around the woods. The forest is accompanied by sand plants such as the reed, haloxylon ammodendron, red willow, alhagi and so on. Together with wild animals such as pheasant, fox, wolf and hare, they form a special ecosystem.
Mulei Populus Euphratica Forest
Oddly-shaped Dead Poplar Tree Trunk
- Location: 30 km to the north of Mingsha Mountain in Mulei
- Opening Hours: 10:00-20:00
- Ticket: CNY 80
30 kilometers northbound from Mt. Mingsha in Mulei, you can see a lush and sun-blocking forest, which is the famous original Populus euphratica forest. It is said that this Populus euphratica forest with an area of more than 30 square kilometers has a history of at least 65 million years (the oldest in China). Although it has gone through ups and downs, it still retains its original style. The height of the tree can reach 20 meters. It has layers of green leaves with different shapes such as round eggs and willow leaves. Walking into the Populus euphratica forest, you can feel the primitive rhythm of life. The majestic upward momentum shows you the indomitable spirit, and the uncanny shape makes you feel the magnificence of nature. For thousands of years, they have been fighting against the erosion of desert with tenacious will. You can see a large scale of dead trees here. What's amazing is that these sturdy trunks are in various shapes. Some are like the wings of a wild goose, some are like the galloping hooves in the air, and some are like slender girls. It's a natural art palace.
Bending River in the Forest
Tarim Luntai Populus Euphratica Forest
- Location: 70 km from South Desert Road, Lunnan Town, Luntai County
- Opening Hours: 10:00 ~ 19:00
- Ticket: CNY 30
Luntai Populus Euphratica Forest was built in February 2004 with a total area of 100 square kilometers. It can be divided into three areas: tourist center, sightseeing area and entertainment area.
Sightseeing area is a 17 km long path with 126 bends. You can enjoy the most ancient and primitive Populus euphratica in different seasons and shapes along the road. In the entertainment area, there is a 13 km long circular sightseeing railway connecting 4-5 large lakes in the forest. Populus euphratica grows very luxuriantly by the lake with is golden in autumn with beautiful reflection in the water. Taking the
Poskam Jinhuyang National Forest Park
Populus Euphratica Contracts Finely with River
- Location: About 40 km to the southwest of Poskam County, near Kashgar
- Opening Hours: 10:00 ~ 19:00
- Ticket: CNY 20
Poskam Jinhuyang National Forest Park is the sixth national 5A tourist attraction in Xinjiang and the first one in southern Xinjiang, with its unique features of vast natural Populus euphratica forest, expansive Yeerqiang River, the barren Gobi desert on both sides of the river and Mount Kunlun in the distance.
In the park lies the relatively well-preserved poplar forest covering 4.6 square kilometers, which is a very magnificent scene. It contracts finely with the river and that’s why it is called “Jinhuyang” (golden poplar forest). In spring, the birds sing happily in the forest and everything is full of vitality; in summer, the sun is covered with thick shade and the trees are dotted by flowers; in autumn, the leaves are dyed yellow like a poetic picture; in winter, it becomes a world of pure snow. The Populus euphratica, river, oasis and Gobi show people a unique picture Xinjiang, which is a rare tourist holy land on the southwest edge of Tarim Basin.
Yiwu Populus Euphratica Forest
Populus Euphratica in Strange Shapes
- Location: 10 km to the east of Naomaohu Town, Yiwu County, Hami City, Xinjiang
- Opening Hours: No specific time
- Ticket: CNY 35/person, CNY 50/car
There are many Populus euphratica forests in Xinjiang, and Yiwu Populus Euphratica Forest (also called Yiwu Primitive Populus Euphratica Forest) is the most peculiar. It has the most concentrated poplar trees in China. It is also the world's oldest Populus euphratica forest with the trees in the strangest shapes. The road to the forest is well paved. You can fully appreciate the 317.3 km² populous forest ageing from 1000 to 9000 years old on the 38 km sightseeing path.
Yiwu Populus euphratica forest faces a more difficult living condition than any other Populus euphratica forest in the world. It has fought thousands of times in the fierce wind, and resisted the raging sandstorm with its own body. The trees are deeply rooted under the thick alkali soil. Despite the burning sun and the howling wind, the trees stand doggedly. Year after year, due to the hard environment, Yiwu Populus euphratica trees show different twisting shapes and look like a palace of abstract art.
Dunhuang Xihu National Nature Reserve
Golden Trees in Late Autumn
- Location: 120 km to the west of Dunhuang
- Opening Hours: No specific time
- Ticket: No ticket
Dunhuang Xihu National Nature Reserve was built in 1992 with an area of 440 km². As a world-famous desert oasis, Dunhuang has a unique natural ecological landscape, and Xihu National Nature Reserve is rather representative. It is located between Yumenguan and the devil city, becoming the last green barrier to prevent the Kumtag Desert from moving eastward to Dunhuang and Mogao Grottoes. Historically, it is also the first post station of the ancient Silk Road outside Yumenguan.
Dunhuang Xihu National Nature Reserve has the third largest Populus euphratica forest (102 km²) in China, only smaller than the ones in Tarim in Xinjiang and Ejin Banner in Inner Mongolia. Besides wetland scenery, it offers more amazing and magnificent scenery: the vast desert, the red Gobi, the Silver Sand Bay known as paradise in desert, the mysterious valley of sand sea, and the Mars City that looks like another world...
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3 Best China Populus Euphratica Forest Tours of 2025
Most classic itinerary to shoot the best scenery of Ejina Populus Euphratica Forest, including Erdaoqiao, Sidaoqiao, Qidaoqiao and Badaoqiao, as well as the best sunrise and sunset in Ejina.
In this 6 days' tour, you will first visit Ejin Banner - the paradise for photographers to view the most dazzling scenery of Populus euphratica and step into the boundless Badain Jaran Desert to admire its multi-colored lakes and high sand dunes.
It is a great trip to explore fouremost glorious destinations in Gansu, namely Zhangye, Jiuquan, Jiayuguan and Dunhuang with diverse cultural and natural experience, enjoyable pace, budget price!
Start planning your tailor-made holiday to China by contacting one of our specialists. Once inquired, you’ll get a response within 0.5~23.5 hours.
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