Travel Notes on the Three Northwest Provinces - Watching for Three Thousand Years, Just Waiting for Your Arrival

10 month13 day

From Juyanhai, we returned to Dalaihubu Town, the capital of Ejina Banner. After breakfast, we went to Ejina Populus euphratica Scenic Area.

The west gate of Ejina Populus euphratica Scenic Area is very close to the city, and the small town has been integrated into the Populus euphratica forest.

When you arrive at the west gate of the scenic spot, there is a huge billboard at the door, "Three thousand years of watching, just waiting for your arrival." The sultry slogan will make you speed up and walk into the gate of the scenic spot.

The Ejina Populus euphratica forest area is one of the only three natural riverbed Populus euphratica forests in the world (the other two are in the Sahara Desert in North Africa and the Taklimakan Desert in the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang). 70 There are more than 10,000 mu of Populus euphratica forests, only 40 It covers more than 10,000 acres, but it is also an important barrier to prevent the spread of the Badain Jaran Desert and an ecological treasure house in western China.

The west gate of the scenic spot is close to the city. This is the main gate of the scenic spot and the tourist service center is also here.

Entering the gate of the scenic spot, you can see the golden autumn colors in front of you, with yellow sand, yellow leaves, and of course, clear water and blue sky.

Even though I just saw the Populus euphratica forest in Weushui yesterday, when I stood in this golden Populus euphratica forest today, I still couldn't help but say in awe: It's so beautiful! The scenery here is amazing.

Facing this beautiful scenery of nature, I don't know what adjectives to use to describe it. I know that no words can be used to describe the beauty of the golden Populus euphratica forest; I know how many people have written countless words of praise, and it is impossible for my clumsy pen to write more gorgeous and moving sentences. Forget it, let’s use pictures to describe it and express our praise!

In the Populus euphratica forest, I used my camera and my mobile phone to take photos alternately, just wanting to take more photos. So what?

We can only go in the direction guided by the plank road to ensure that we do not exceed the time specified by the driver and tour guide in the scenic area. We will not have the opportunity to see more beautiful scenery.

Ejina Populus euphratica Scenic Area has been listed as a World Geopark, China National Geopark, China Alxa Desert Geopark, and China National Forest Park. The locals call the most beautiful and spectacular parts of the Populus euphratica forest "One Bridge", "Erdao Bridge", ... and up to Badao Bridge. Although they are all Populus euphratica forests, the scenery of each bridge is different, and there are shuttle buses connecting each bridge.

In the forest, the sound of camel bells rang from time to time. It was teams of camels carrying tourists walking among the Populus euphratica forests. If I have more time, I really want to ride a camel and roam in the Desert Populus euphraticaforest to feel the charm of a "desert boat".

In the Populus euphratica forest, which is full of scenery, we can take pictures and enjoy the scenery all the way. There are endless scenery to take pictures and endless views of the Populus euphratica forest. Someone here said that in this desert Populus euphratica forest, many photographers carry "long guns and short cannons" on their backs, and when they choose the sunset to reflect the sky, how many good photos can be taken by wandering around here? This photo album can't be rated as a senior photographer. It depends on whether you are willing to work hard. But that requires time to stay for a few days. Our "skipping the water" and "taking a quick look at the flowers" trip will not be published in a picture album. Taking a few photos is a record of our visit.

It's quite a long distance from the first bridge "Taolai Forest" to the second bridge "Reflection Forest". The scenic area is very large, but we dare not leave too far from the plank road for fear of not having enough time. I think if I come to Ejina again, I must prepare for two full days, otherwise I can only see a superficial glimpse. Here, a scenic spot ticket can be used for two days. When you go out on the first day, take a photo at the exit for face recognition, and swipe your face card on the second day.

Unconsciously, we walked to Erdao Bridge. There was a small market here. There were stalls on both sides of the road, selling specialties and snacks. There were shouts and prices, and it was bustling and lively. When you are tired from walking, you can take a rest and eat something to replenish your energy.

Not far ahead is the local station, where there is a long queue. There are two bus stops, one goes to Sidaoqiao and the other goes to Qidaoqiao. There are many tourists, and the buses come quickly, one every few minutes. Seeing that time allowed, we decided to continue walking. We wanted to go to Qidaoqiao first and then go to Sidaoqiao when we came back. We took the bus to Qidaoqiao.

Unexpectedly, when we arrived at Qidaoqiao, we got off the bus and saw that we had to walk several kilometers to Badaoqiao before we could get a return car. At first, I felt that the walking distance was a bit far and the time was not enough. I regretted coming to Qidaoqiao for a moment. I had no choice but to go inside reluctantly.

Unexpectedly, Qidao Bridge has a more charming scenery. There are small puddles in the desert. Poplar trees surround the puddles. The shadows of the trees and the blue sky are reflected on the water, which is unique. The further I walked, the more I felt that I had come to the right place and that this road was not unfair.

In fact, Qidaoqiao has the youngest Populus euphratica forest, also known as the "Dream Forest", but we didn't know it because we didn't prepare our homework and didn't have a tour guide to guide us. The Populus euphratica forest here is the first to send out its tender green branches at the turn of spring and summer every year, awakening the resurrection of the thousand-year-old Populus euphratica, blooming the green leaves of life, and announcing the beginning of the life of Populus euphratica; in the golden autumn season, the first batch of golden Populus euphratica soaked in autumn frost will appear here. , infecting the forest of Populus euphratica. It would be a pity if you missed Qidao Bridge.

Populus euphratica is a desert plant with astonishing vitality. It was called Hutong in ancient times and is recorded in "Hanshu · Geography" and "Shui Jing Zhu". Populus euphratica is called "Taolai" in Mongolian. It is also praised by people because of its amazing ability to withstand drought, wind and sand, and salt-alkali resistance. It is cold-resistant, drought-resistant, salt-alkali resistant, and wind-sand resistant. It has strong vitality and can survive and reproduce tenaciously in the desert. It is the "Desert Hero Tree". It is a precious species that has survived nature's long evolutionary process. The Populus euphratica fossils found in the middle part of the Paleocene strata of the Third Period in Kuqa Thousand Buddha Cave and Dunhuang Tiejianggou are at least 6500 years old. The leaves of Populus euphratica trees of different ages have different shapes. Young leaves are like needles and willow eyebrows, mature leaves are like birches, and old leaves are oval. Even the same tree will grow different leaves. With its plant characteristics, Populus euphratica has given people a kind of spiritual sustenance, praising the huge vitality of Populus euphratica, which "lives for a thousand years and does not die, dies for a thousand years and does not fall, and falls for a thousand years and remains immortal".

When we drove to Badaoqiao, we saw that it was the Shahai Geopark. The tall sand dunes blocked the view ahead. If you are in a hurry, you can pass by the entrance of Desert Park. Later, I learned that this is the edge of the famous Badain Jaran Desert.

The Badain Jaran Desert is located in the Alxa League of Inner Mongolia, between Ejina and Alxa Right Banner. It is the third largest desert in my country. It has four wonders: strange peaks, Mingsha, lakes, and divine springs. The spectacular Mingsha area, dotted lakes and oases, the endless sand sea divine springs, and the mysterious desert temples combine the unique beauty of the desert. . Under the influence of wind, the sand dunes take on the shape of giant waves and pyramids, creating a spectacular sight. The scattered singing sand is even known as the "World's Sounding Sand Kingdom". But when I arrived at Badaoqiao, I missed the Badain Jaran Desert, which was really a pity. This also taught me a big lesson. When traveling abroad, you should prepare lessons beforehand, otherwise, you will miss many rare opportunities.

We boarded the return shuttle bus from Badaoqiao. Due to time constraints, we could only wave at Sidaoqiao when we passed by. Sidaoqiao was once used as a location for the filming of the movie "Hero". The two female characters in red outfits fought in the air with golden poplar leaves flying in the sky. The beautiful scene left a deep impression on moviegoers. Therefore, the Populus euphratica forest here is also called the "hero forest". It's a pity that we didn't get to meet him.

‍In a hurry, I left the Populus euphratica forest scenic area and waved goodbye ‍. We had lunch back in the city, and in the afternoon we had to rush to Jiayuguan, which was nearly 400 kilometers away.