The Ejina Poplar Forest is located in Ejina Banner, Alxa League, Inner Mongolia. It is one of only three remaining primitive poplar forests in the world, covering approximately 30,000 hectares. The poplar is one of Earth's oldest tree species, with a history of over 65 million years, earning it the title of "living plant fossil."

The poplar is most famous for the saying "three thousand years" — living for a thousand years without dying, standing for a thousand years after death, and remaining undecayed for a thousand years after falling. Every year from late September to mid-October, the poplar leaves turn from green to golden yellow, transforming the entire forest into a sea of gold that attracts countless photographers and tourists.

What visitors find most stunning about the poplar forest is the overwhelming golden scene and the awe-inspiring resilience of life. In October, the forest looks like a fairy tale — golden leaves blanket the branches, sunlight filters through the treetops, and every snapshot looks breathtakingly beautiful. The reflections in the water at the Second Bridge and the iconic scene from the movie Hero at the Fourth Bridge are particularly popular.

A Story: The Legend of the Monster Forest

There is a dried-up poplar forest in Ejina called the "Monster Forest" (Guai Shulin). Walking through it, you see dead trees in all shapes and forms — some reaching up as if crying to the sky, others lying prostrate on the ground — like a frozen ancient battlefield.

Legend has it that in ancient times, a general stationed at Black City led his troops in a desperate breakout. They fought their way back, retreating into what was then a lush poplar forest. But the Ruo River to the west blocked their escape. The general and his soldiers fought to the death, and all fell in battle. Their bodies, it is said, transformed into the forest.

Today, the twisted deadwood of the Monster Forest stands in various poses under the sunset, making it a paradise for photographers. But seeing those poplars that "refuse to fall" leaves visitors both awed and sad — their remains serve as a reminder that life is precious, and our ecology is fragile.