Westbound Essay No. 3 "Poplar Forest" (original)

Poplar Forest

　Poplar, also known as heterophyllum, is a deciduous tree, is an ancient tree species, but also a special plant formed after desertification, hardy, drought-resistant, salt-tolerant, wind-resistant sand, with strong vitality, known as "desert warrior". It is mainly distributed in the western temperate desert region of China, and 90% grows in the Tarim Basin of Xinjiang. Poplar trunk straight, leaves peculiar, the following juvenile young branches and leaves are narrow and long like willows, the leaves of the middle-aged branches in the middle are diamond-shaped, oval, semi-circular, and the leaves of the elderly branches above become maple leaves with jagged shapes, a tree with three leaves, so it has the name of "changing leaf poplar" and "heterophyllum poplar". The leaves and branches of poplar are changeable to prevent the evaporation of water. Its root system is very wide, and it is often seen that there is a net of roots up to tens of meters long exposed on the sandy ground. Its roots are so deep that it absorbs moisture from the depths of the desert, so neither hurricane sandstorms nor the ravages of flood demons can shake the roots of poplars. Therefore, the poplar has a thousand years of immortality, a thousand years after death does not fall, and a thousand years after the fall is not rotten.

The poplar forests in Ejina, Inner Mongolia, are mainly distributed on both sides of the Ejina River, forming a "green corridor" of nearly a thousand miles. At present, there are four main poplar forest scenic spots in Ejina: Ejina Banner Poplar Forest Scenic Area, which has now been listed as a global geopark, China National Geopark, commonly known as a bridge to Badaoqiao; Ejin Naqi Weak Water Jinshawan Poplar Forest Scenic Area, is a primitive desert poplar forest scenic spot that has recently been developed, known as "drunken beauty poplar forest"; the Desert Poplar Juyan Cultural Tourism Zone is a scenic spot integrating ecological tourism, cultural experience, tourism distribution, and characteristic business, commonly known as desert poplar The Old Man Lake Poplar Ranch Scenic Area is located in Dongfeng Town, Ejin Naqi, with original poplar forest, wetland protection area, Han Dynasty ruins of Dafang City, New West Temple, Ejin Naqi Government Site, etc., commonly known as Laoren Lake.

We went to see the Ejina Poplar Forest Scenic Area. The scenic spot is very close to our residence, through two short narrow streets, hiking about 500 meters, to the Ejin Na River. A new bridge was erected on the river to lead to the scenic gate, and a stone monument was erected at the head of the bridge. The stone stele is not large, made of bluestone material, and at first glance it is thought to be an ordinary stone stele that records the repair of bridges or scenic spots. When I got closer, I learned that it was originally the Zhu Gong Monument, and the inscription recorded that Premier Zhu Rongji personally cared about supervising the flow of black water into the Yanhai, and that the Ejina River, which had been dry for ten years, saw the rolling green stream again. Looking at the stone monument, I can't help but think a lot. Although the stele is very ordinary and not tall, the inscription is very simple, there is no gorgeous language, and the writing and carving should also be done by the locals, and cannot be called everyone, but what is ordinary and simple is the sincere feelings of the Ejin people toward Premier Zhu Rongji. Leaving the stone monument, along the straight and wide scenic avenue to the tourist ticketing hall, the hall is empty, there is no one, there is no Internet said that the Eleventh Golden Festival tourists are weaving, a ticket is difficult to find the scene. More than a dozen ticket gates, probably because of the dotted tourists, only opened a ticket inspection channel, the ticket inspector lazily watched the tourists brush tickets, completely without a little anger. Walk through the ticket gates and along the boardwalk to see poplar trees in clusters, either growing on barren sand ridges or growing in sand bays. The trunk is straight, stout, and tall, with a canopy like an umbrella, and a network of branches and leaves, woven into one piece. Leaves and teeth, like maple leaves, like poplar leaves, far away, the world is full of golden brilliance, burnt yellow, orange yellow, goose yellow, yellow variety, is a Danqing master, it is difficult to use a brush to describe. After turning around two sand bays, we arrived at the second bridge. It is called the Erdao Bridge, but there is actually no bridge. But there is a big difference between this and a bridge. One bridge has nothing but poplar or desert, the scenery is single, and the second bridge has sand and water. A river meanders between sandy bays, and where the river flows, there are wetlands and water berths. Green grass grows on the banks of the river and on the wetlands, and the blue sky, white clouds, and yellow leaves of poplars are reflected in the water, and the grass on the shore constitutes a beautifully colored watercolor painting, which nourishes the eyes and the heart. It is probably because of such a beautiful scenery that it attracts a large number of tourists and photography enthusiasts. Here step by step, one bay and one world, let the toiling people forget the tiredness, the heart is relaxed; let the troubled people forget the sorrows, the heart is calm. It is also a paradise for photography enthusiasts, no matter which angle you stand, you can find the best effect of photography, no matter in which sand bay or wetland you can find the picture you are looking forward to.

All the way to the beautiful scenery all the way fast, unconsciously has reached the four bridges. The four bridges have no sand beams, they are all wetlands, and the poplar trees have become low, guarding the canals in rows along the water's edge. A one-man tall patch of red willow blooms with purple millet flowers, as if laid out with a huge velvet blanket.

Leave the Shidao Bridge and ride straight up to the Seven Bridges. The view of the Seven-Way Bridge is actually the overlap of the Second Bridge and the Four-Way Bridge. After admiring it for a while, because the journey was twenty kilometers and exhausted, the companions unanimously proposed to the Badao Bridge. Badaoqiao is the farthest attraction, driving through villages and fields that have been rarely seen in two days, walking for nearly half an hour, and the car finally arrived at the scenic gate. Looking at the instructions of the guide board, the yellow sand beams are one after another, the sand ridge is like a blade, there are no trees, there is no vegetation, only the camel caravan camels tourists play slowly on the sand ridge. Those of us who came from the Mausu Desert, when we saw that Suo was not interested, turned around and went home.