Description: 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.

First, we need to take an overnight sleeper train to Korla. There are four trains available and the most suitable one that we recommend is 5812/5813 which departs at 20:13 and arrives at 08:19 the next morning. The hard berth ticket is CNY93.00 and the soft berth ticket is CNY144.00.

Luobu Village at dusk

Then please take public bus No. 1/4 from the railway station to the City Passenger Station (also known as the Laojie Passenger Station) to connect with the coach to Yuli County. If you want to take a taxi, the flag-down price in Korla City is CNY5.00. Yuli is 50km south from Korla and the journey takes about 1 hour. The mini-bus ticket is CNY11.00, the coach ticket is CNY8.00 and the car ticket is CNY14.00. If you charter a taxi, the cost is about CNY70.00.

Upon arrival, if you would like to stay overnight in the county hostel, some useful information is shown below. But please kindly note that no western food is available and the staff may not speak English at all.

1.  LuoBuZhuoEr Hotel:
Address: No. 13 Jiefang Road
Tel: 0996-4022119/4021118
2.  YouDian Hotel:
Address: Tuanjie Road
Tel: 0996-4027988
3. JianYing Hotel
Address: Kongque Road
Tel: 0996-4022818
4. HongLiang Hotel
Address: Heping Road
Tel: 0996-4022518
5. HengYuan Hotel
Address: Kongque Road
Tel: 0996-4022990

The food in Yuli County is various and delicious, especially the local shashlik flavor. It is something you must try if you ever visit Xijiang.

But if you want to stay at Luobu Village and have full contact with the Luobu culture, we can continue the journey by spending CNY100.00 to charter a taxi to the village which is 35km away to the southwest.

Diversiform-leaved Poplar Forest

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 there is the real highlight. 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.

At night, staying in the tent or cabin, you can feel the thorough silence. When you look up at the night sky, you will understand why they describe the stars as the diamonds on the dark blue velvet.

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.