Xinjiang: Desert Poplars of Huludao, Oct 2024

Our journey will begin in Korla (库尔勒), the second largest city by population in Xinjiang, China.  Korla has existed since the Han Dynasty and is known for its production of fragrant pears, hence the city’s other name, City of Pears.  It was the throat of the Silk Road, an important transportation hub.  I flew into Korla from Chengdu and stayed overnight before embarking on my journey to capture the desert poplars.  Populus euphratica is an ancient tree species of the Tertiary period that grows in the world’s arid desert riverbanks hence lending the name “king of the desert.”  Populus euphratica is called “Toklak” in Uyghur which translates to “the most beautiful tree”.  Most of the world’s populus euphratica are concentrated in China with 90% of those in the Tarim River Basin of Xinjiang.  This type of tree has an amazing ability to resist drought, wind, sand, and salt, surviving in extremely dry and cold areas.  There is an old Chinese saying to praise these ancient trees for being able to “live a thousand years, then stand a thousand years after death, and remain imperishable for another thousand years.”  The best time to see these beautiful trees is from October 20 to early November as they change from dark green to golden yellow blending harmoniously with the golden sands of the desert along the crystal blue Tarim River.   First hotel is Shilan Fengya Hotel 诗兰枫雅酒店 located in the 33rd Regiment of the Second Division (33团胡楊林) in Yuli County.