Zepu Jinhuyang National Forest Park: A Golden Oasis Where Water Meets the Desert Poplar

1.Zepu Jinhuyang National Forest: Park is a breathtaking ecological miracle located on the western edge of the Taklamakan Desert, specifically on the alluvial fan of the Yarkant River. Situated approximately 40 kilometers west of Zepu County in the Kashgar Prefecture of Xinjiang, the park covers a total area of 40,000 mu, including 20,000 mu of primitive poplar forest. It is recognized as a National 5A-level scenic area and is famously known as the "Green Pearl on the Gobi Desert".

The park’s most distinctive feature is its "Water Poplars" (Shui Huyang), a rare phenomenon where the Populus euphratica trees grow directly in or alongside water diverted from the Yarkant River. While most desert poplars are associated with arid dunes, the poplars in Zepu are nourished by year-round water sources, creating a unique "water-poplar symbiosis". Historically, this area was a critical green post on the Ancient Silk Road, and the poplars are revered by local Uyghur and Tajik people as "desert heroes" that live, stand, and remain rot-resistant for a thousand years each.

The current landscape is the result of decades of ecological restoration. In the 1980s, the local government and residents diverted the Yarkant River to combat severe desertification, transforming the barren land into a lush forest and reservoir system. Visitors today can explore the golden forests, the expansive Sha-ji (Sea Buckthorn) thickets covering 10,000 mu, and the Yarkant River Ethnic Cultural Village, which showcases authentic regional architecture and customs. The park represents the harmonious integration of natural beauty, historical legacy, and modern ecological protection.