#Tarim Populus Euphratica National Forest Park Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
The world's only desert Populus euphratica forest park
Autumn is the time to visit the Populus euphratica forest above the desert Gobi, known as the 'immortal sacred tree'. The golden Populus euphratica forest extends an invitation to tourists from all over the country, with a three-thousand-year wait for the splendid golden autumn, all for your arrival!
The fairy-tale-like Populus euphratica forest is about to go viral on the internet! With a vista of golden hues and sunlight scattered among them, it is beautiful and spectacular. Don't miss out on this autumn~
Having been enchanted by the Populus euphratica forest in Ejina, it is only in Xinjiang that one realizes that 61% of the world's Populus euphratica forests are in China, and 89% of China's Populus euphratica forests are in Xinjiang. The largest of these is on the northern edge of the Tarim Basin, in the Tarim Populus euphratica forest within the territory of Luntai County, by the Tarim River. Here lies the 'oldest, largest, and most well-preserved' original Populus euphratica forest of over a million acres. In the Uyghur language, Populus euphratica is called 'Toklak', meaning 'the most beautiful tree'. It possesses a tenacious vitality and an astonishing ability to resist drought, wind, sand, and salinity, earning it the nickname 'hero tree of the desert'.
NIA BRIGGS
Autumn Tour in Xinjiang (67) 'Tarim Poplar National Forest Park'
'Tarim Poplar National Forest Park', located on the northeastern edge of the Taklamakan Desert, the middle reaches of the Tarim River, Luntai County, Bazhou, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with a total area of 100 square kilometers, is the largest original poplar park in Xinjiang.
The scenic area has tour buses, small trains, walking plank roads...
Desert heroes - Poplar, and the desert's three swordsmen 'Red Willow', Tamarisk...
Walk into the Poplar Forest, 'Three Holy Trees', 'Strange Forest', 'Tree Soul', telling you the legend that spans a thousand years...
Desert, blue sky, green water; red, yellow, green intertwined into a breathtaking oil painting, wood carving...
Take the bus from 'Korla State Passenger Station' to Luntai, buy a ticket to 'Tahe Oilfield (Team 3)', a 6-seater car, ticket price is 80 yuan.
The bus does not go to the Poplar Forest Park, you need to tell the driver in advance, the driver will drop you off at the front of 'Tarim Poplar National Forest Park', make an appointment with the driver, keep the phone number, return to Korla by the return bus at 6 o'clock in the evening.
Due to the itinerary, the time to go to the Tarim Poplar National Forest Park is a bit early, only some of the poplar leaves have turned yellow, wait another week, it is the most beautiful time of the golden poplar forest,
WandererWonders
The millennium Populus euphratica, witnessing the changes
On the desert road to Luntai Populus Euphratica Forest Park, there are Populus euphratica trees all the way, growing tenaciously in the desert, immortal for a thousand years. Through wars, dynastic changes, the establishment of New China, and the reform and opening up, only they stand in the midst of the yellow sand with their immortal posture for a thousand years, wearing golden armor through hundreds of battles, and the past spans a thousand years.
LYRIC AVILA
Tarim Poplar Forest | You must see it in golden autumn at least once
Most of the poplars in the world grow in China, and over 90% of China's poplar forests grow in Xinjiang. Desert poplars, Gobi poplars, water-loving poplars, wetland poplars, riverside poplars, lakeside poplars, dead tree poplars... All forms of poplar trees can be seen in Xinjiang. Walking in the poplar forest is like walking into a colorful oil painting~
"Luntai Tarim Poplar Forest"
The Tarim River runs from west to east. The river, desert, Gobi, oasis, sand lake, ancient road and desert grassland are integrated, and there is a 13-kilometer-long sightseeing railway in the poplar forest. The scenery along the way is like a fairyland, and the sides of the road are tall and sturdy poplars~
⚠️tips:
1⃣️Take the shuttle bus directly to the core scenic area 🚂Take the small train to tour the depths of the poplar forest, and walk through the poplar forest along the shuttle bus road~
2⃣️Self-driving can continue to drive south along the desert highway, bypass the main entrance of the scenic area, and drive directly into the roadside poplar forest. If it is a hardcore off-road vehicle and has enough driving experience, you can also try to cross the wild poplar forest, which is very exciting~
CHRISTIAN CONNER
Tarim Poplar! The entrance to the fairy tale forest
A simple guide to the Tarim Poplar Forest||📍
The Tarim Poplar Forest National Forest Park covers an area of 100 square kilometers and is located 70 kilometers south of the desert highway in Luntai County, Bazhou, in the middle reaches of the Tarim River on the northeastern edge of the Taklamakan Desert. It is the largest original poplar forest park in Xinjiang and the most concentrated area of original poplar forests in the entire Tarim River basin.
🌳Magnificent desert and poplar forest
In the Tarim Poplar Forest, you can explore the Silk Road and ancient cities, tour the Tarim River and admire the poplars, visit Luntai to see oil, and enter the Tarim to watch the desert. The magnificent scenery here attracts countless domestic and foreign tourists and photography enthusiasts to come here for outings and shell picking, and to sing passionately about the magnificence of the desert and the long river.
⏰Best travel time
The best travel time is from May to November.
💡Tips
Due to the dryness of the scenic area, remember to bring moisturizing skincare products and water.
💯The best viewing time for the southern Xinjiang Poplar Forest is in October every year, and the beautiful scenery is not to be missed.
💯There is a two-hour time difference between southern Xinjiang and the mainland, there are many mosquitoes in the scenic area, prepare mosquito repellent in advance.
💯When hiking in the Tianshan Gorge, it is best to wear sports shoes, or comfortable walking shoes are also acceptable.
💯The desert highway has strong ultraviolet rays, please apply sunscreen in advance.
💯The temperature difference between morning and evening in Xinjiang is relatively large, please prepare suitable clothes and emergency medicine.
🚗Transportation
1️⃣Suitable for chartered or self-driving.
2️⃣Take the bus to Luntai County at the Bazhou Bus Terminal (10:00-21:00, about one every 30 minutes, ticket price is 38 yuan, the journey takes about 2.5 hours).
3️⃣Then transfer to the bus to Tahe Bridge Town at the Luntai Bus Station (10:00-18:00, one every 2 hours, ticket price is 18 yuan).
4️⃣Get off at the park entrance. When returning, you can take the bus from Tahe Bridge Town to Luntai County on the side of the road. The last bus to Korla from Luntai County is at 20:00.
A World of Flavor
【Xinjiang·Luntai】Looking for the king of Populus euphratica forest in the most beautiful season
Xinjiang·Luntai·Tarim Populus Euphratica Forest Park
🚉Transportation and accommodation:
Generally self-driving or chartering a car from Luntai County.
Living in the center of Luntai County is still about an hour's drive from the Populus Euphratica Forest Park.
You can choose to live in Tahe, a 10-minute drive away. But the food and accommodation conditions are general, if you mind, choose a better hotel in the county center.
🎫Ticket:
40 yuan/person, if self-driving +218 yuan/car. The small train in the scenic area is 100 yuan/person. Viewing platform 20 yuan/person.
❤Reasons for recommendation:
The most concentrated, best preserved, oldest and largest representative Populus euphratica forest group in the world.
The end of October is the most beautiful season here. The autumn Populus euphratica presents a color of life.
Here are the Populus euphratica reflected in the Tarim River, the lush golden Populus euphratica, and the dead Populus euphratica under the setting sun... The beauty of multiple elements fusion.
It is best to drive into the scenic area by yourself and take a slow tour. Early morning and evening can feel the more appropriate Populus euphratica legend.
A super suitable place for drones. Aerial view roaming, entering a different Populus euphratica world.
📝Note tips:
Personally, I think the retro small train is not cost-effective, there are many people sitting, and you have to queue up and wait for the departure time, and the scenery is not outstanding in the scenic area.
The fairy tale world of Populus euphratica needs time to slowly feel, it is best to arrange ample time for sightseeing.
Those with high requirements for food and accommodation are best arranged to live in the urban area of Korla, which takes more than 2 hours one way.
chillydeeanna
Populus euphratica should be a variant of the phoenix tree, because each tree can grow different leaves, and there are three kinds at least, so it is called the phoenix tree. The Tarim River is a wetland Populus euphratica. You can hear the life of Populus euphratica from the twisted torso of Populus euphratica and the struggle to survive in the ground. This is a trunk of Populus euphratica with only one thin and dry skin left in the trunk. It has been tilted for a few years and still stands.