The desert poplar forest in Ejine (Ejin) Banner is one of the three remaining Euphrates poplar forest reserves in the world. The scenic area integrates an assortment of landscapes including desert, Gobi, grassland, lake and forest.

The Euphrates, or desert, poplar is a species of the willow family. It is a bushy, deciduous tree whose trunk is often twisted and crooked. It usually grows in desert oases. Though it prefers wet climates, it is resistant to drought, cold, salinity, wind and sandstorms. 

Euphrates poplar forests have a very wide range of species, occurring naturally from North Africa, across the Middle East and Central Asia to western China. 

The Ejine poplar forest is most often visited during October and November. If you go there from mid to late October, you will still be able to see leaves on the cottonwood, while a certain amount of leaves would already have fallen off. If you visit during November, most leaves will be shredded. 

A drone view shows desert poplar trees in Ejine Banner, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Oct 10. [Photo/Xinhua]