At the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, edged on the other side by the forbidding Tarim Basin, lies desert forest of Xinjiang,China, Luntai Huyang Poplar Forest Park,, as oxymoronic as that may seem. The reason life flourishes in such an arid zone is due to the Huyang poplar trees. Luntai is the world's largest preserve of Huyang poplars, 27, 000 hectares' worth.
Faced with cruel broiling heat and drought, only these diversiform-leaved poplars still stand in the desert, brimming with energy and life force. It is also acclaimed as the “desert hero” because of its unyielding life force and amazing ability to endure drought, sandstorms, and saline and alkali soils. Folk have made heroes of them for their ability to grow erect for a thousand years, live for a thousand years after falling, and life and remain undying after death for another thousand years.