Ejina Banner

A border desert oasis famed for its golden autumn poplar forests, with Juyan Lake sunrises and the Khara-Khoto ruins also very appealing.

Ejina Banner lies at the far western tip of Inner Mongolia, bordering Mongolia, where the lower reaches of the Heihe River form a desert oasis. Its Euphrates poplar (populus euphratica) forest is one of the most famous poplar-viewing sites in China; the leaves turn golden from late September to mid-October, the best viewing period, when visitors are numerous. Juyan Lake is a popular spot to watch sunrise, and the Western Xia-era Khara-Khoto ruins (Heicheng) and the "ghost forest" of dead poplars have a desolate beauty. Other seasons see fewer visitors, with hot summers and cold winters. You can fly to Ejina Airport or arrive by train, and there are also self-drive routes from nearby cities.

Destinations

• Ejin (Ejina)

Itineraries

• Badain Jaran Desert & Ejina Populus Euphratica Crossing – Enter from Yinchuan and exit from Jiayuguan, traverse Alxa, venture deep into the desert, and catch the golden autumn P…
• Jiayuguan-Ejina Populus Euphratica Round Trip – Travel in and out of Ejina from Jiayuguan, covering Heicheng, the Weird Forest, the Populus Euphratica Forest, and Juya…