2 Days Travel to Luobu Village and Poplar Forest

As Xinjiang is a Uygur Autonomous Region which possesses 1/6 land of China, hinterland adventure of this province is always attractive and exciting. Along China's longest inland river, Tarimu River to China's largest desert, Taklimakan, we take you visit Luobu Village and the diversiform-leaved poplar forest.

Please take the inter-city express train C8102 0858/1302 from Urumqi to Korla and the second class train ticket is CNY108 per person. Upon arrival in Korla, take the public bus No. 101(Inner Ring) and get off at Bus Station after 15 stops. Take the coach to Yuli (available from 09:00 to 21:00). Yuli is 50km south from Korla and the journey takes about 1 hour with the tickets of CNY10 per person. Upon arrival in Yuli, take the taxi or hire a car to Luobu Village and the journey takes about 50 minutes. The fee to charter a taxi is about CNY100 one way. Stay at a local hostel for overnight. Tamo Hostel and Mobei Poplar Hostel are two options.

Luobu Village (admission fee: CNY20.00) occupies an area of 72 square kilometers and is at the conjunction of China's largest desert, the Taklimakan; China's longest inland river, the Tarimu River and the largest diversiform-leaved poplar forest. Luobu is one of the oldest native nations in Xinjiang, living by the little lakes from generation to generation.

Being isolated in the desert oasis for so many years, the Luobu people have developed their own culture and traditions which are held in high regard within minority art and custom history. Their lives are simple and primordial; they do not cultivate or graze animals, only fish; they are creative and make everything of wood; their architecture and rock paintings are unique and valued.

The Diversiform-leaved Poplar Forest Protect Region is the real highlight today. Diversiform-leaved poplar is the oldest kind of poplar in the world and this forest has a history of 2500 years. Diversiform-leaved poplar can grow in the most terrible and drought-ridden areas, therefore is called the desert warrior. It is said that it can live for a thousand years before dying, and stand a thousand years before falling and remain another thousand years before decaying. It has effectively protected the precious oasis and prevented the desert from extending.

Besides the inimitable desert oasis scene, the forest attracts every photography enthusiast and nature lover because of its own amazingly imposing view. Due to the effects of wind, sandstorm and drought, the shape of every tree is vagarious. When it is fall, the golden, red and brown leaves reflect in the lakes with unbounded blue sky and yellow sand sea as the background, it is the most beautiful and touching scenery along the Silk Road.

Since the local supplies are very limited, please bring your own essential equipment like sun glasses, T-shirt as well as long sleeve shirt and trousers, compass, sleeping bag, mosquito-repellent medicine, other hygienic stuff, etc. October is best time to visit as the scenery is the most wonderful and the temperature is suitable: about 25 centigrade at day and minus 15 centigrade at night.

As the landform is varied and sparsely peopled, please keep in mind your safety while having fun.

After the tour ends, you could go back to Urumqi by the same way or head to other cities in southern Xinjiang, like Kuqa, Aksu, Kashgar.