Xinjiang: Desert Poplars of Kuche Canyon, Oct 2024

Between Luntai 轮台 and Kuche 库车 in Xinjiang is another undiscovered area of populus euphratica or desert poplars, this time inside a canyon.  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.  No signs, let alone roads, no cell signal, and of course no one else around.  We followed the partly dried river into the canyon coming across clusters of golden desert poplars.  The 4×4 took us as far as possible and we continued on foot.  It was quite an adventure jumping from rock to rock across the streams, though carrying my equipment all the way was a bit tiring.  I have no idea how far into the canyon we went but I doubt we even covered half of it.

Kuche Central Asia Hotel 庫車中亞酒店

 

Driving to the middle of nowhere….

Even without a drone, I was able to capture these canyons shots from an overpass above.

Kuche Canyon

 

Kuche Canyon

Kuche Canyon

 

Kuche Canyon