China’s Natural Wonders: The Huyang Tree (胡杨树)

When you think of China, what do you envision? The Great Wall? Or perhaps, the Forbidden Palace? Although there is a great variety of manmade marvels in China, today we will be focusing on one of the natural wonders of China: the Huyang tree.

The Huyang tree, also known as the Populus euphratica, is the only tree species known to be able to survive the extreme conditions of the desert. Its nickname—“desert hero” or “hero tree”—fittingly describes its amazing ability to endure severe cold, wind, drought, sandstorms, and salinity. Many centuries ago, the Huyang tree was found in much of western China and other areas in Central Asia; however, currently, 90% of Huyang trees are all located in China, and the great majority of these are found in the Tarim Basin in southern Xinjiang.

Why did I choose to write about the Huyang tree instead of the other natural phenomena in China? Well, at this time of the year, the foliage of the Huyang trees turn a mesmerizing gold color, with the first two weeks of October being the prime time to appreciate the bright colors that stand out against tree branches of unusual shapes and sizes. Not only has the wonder of autumn Huyang leaves impressed the massive number of tourists that visit Huyang forests each year, it has also caught the eye of famous Chinese directors: Director Zhang Yimou’s 2002 movie “Hero” and Director Wong Kar-wai’s 2008 film “Ashes of Time” both feature a magnificent backdrop of Huyang trees.

“Hero” directed by Zhang Yimou

Chinese sayings have arisen to describe the vitality of the Huyang tree, which has been heralded as an “immortal” plant. Local folks have used the following to describe what the Huyang tree means to them: “Live for a thousand years until death. Stand for another thousand years until fallen. Exist for another thousand years until rotten.” To them, the Huyang tree is a symbol of perseverance and endurance.

I hope you enjoyed learning about this amazing species of trees. If you find yourself in western China during the fall, make sure to spend some time appreciating the natural beauty of the Huyang forest. Until next time! 🙂

 

Sources:

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/feature/Glorious-land-of-golden-poplars/shdaily.shtml

https://chinablog.cc/2009/12/ejin-huyang-forest-the-spirit-of-desert/

https://www.chinatouradvisors.com/attractions/Luntai-Huyang-Poplar-Forest-Park–1532.html?id=1532

https://tsuchenc.wordpress.com/2010/10/14/tarim-basin-huyang-forest/

https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E8%83%A1%E6%9D%A8/981979?fromtitle=%E8%83%A1%E6%9D%A8%E6%A0%91&fromid=2275

There are 10 comments

  1. 茱蒂

    大自然真是神奇呀!作者真是慧眼识英雄,能够找到这么奇特的景观介绍给大家。看到美丽的风景,真令人心旷神怡!如果自己有一天能够亲眼目睹这遍奇景,那真是不虚此生了!

  2. Maya Yu

    Wow! Huyang trees are so beautiful. I love the beautiful colors of fall, so the gold color looks so mesmerizing.

  3. Juliann L

    This article was so informative and interesting. I liked how you described Huyang trees nicely and added photos. Writing about how the residents near the tree felt about them strengthened its importance to people. It’s great how the Huyang trees can withstand any conditions, so its beauty can always be admired. Great article!

  4. Natasha K.

    Not only are the Huyang trees beautiful, with their shining gold leaves, it is a symbol. This article is very interesting and I learned a lot from the photos and the great details. Good job!

  5. Ria Mandarin I

    These trees are so fascinating. The cool part about the trees is that they are immortal. This is such a instresting article.

  6. Daryn N.

    This was a beautifully written article. These trees truly are incredible. I am not someone who is crazy interested in the environment, but after reading this article, it is difficult not to be. It is great to bring these wonders to light. Keep up the good work

  7. Logan C

    Nice Caroline! The Huyang tree was unknown to me before this but it seems really cool. All the pictures you included in this article are beautiful and are quintessential backdrops of what I picture to be the essence of Chinese natural beauty. It is also really cool that the tree holds such great spiritual meaning. Anything important to a group of people should hold a higher symbolic meaning than physical appearance, and the Huyang tree embodies this perfectly. Now when I think of China, I will include the Huyang tree in my vision.

  8. Hitomi Honda

    Wow, I never knew about the Huyang tree! The vibrant color is so beautiful and definitely reminds me of fall. It’s so cool that these trees were used as a backdrop for a few movies. I also learned that most of these trees are located in Xinjiang, China. Great article!

  9. Ashley Lu

    This article was very informative and intriguing. The trees are very beautiful in color. I never knew about the Huyang tree but it is very cool that these trees were used as backdrops for movies. It’s very cool to know that these trees hold such a meaning. Its also very cool to know how the tree can withstand any weather.

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