Unexpected Xinjiang: What does desert poplar stand for?

As an important passage of the ancient Silk Road, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China features numerous cultural landmarks along its over 5,000-kilometer-long southern, northern and central routes, including ancient cities, tombs and ancient terrace remains. Xinjiang is a region where multiple ethnicities live, with 47 ethnic groups such as the Uygur, Han, Kazakh, Hui and Kyrgyz. The ethnic diversity in Xinjiang contributes to its distinctive cultural charm, with each ethnic group showcasing rich characteristics in literature, arts and music. Therefore it is renowned as the "Land of Songs and Dances."

In the culture of Xinjiang, the desert poplar holds significant symbolism. This tree, a precious forest resource unique to Xinjiang's desert areas, exhibits remarkable resilience, thriving in cold, arid and saline-alkali environments. For centuries, these trees have played a crucial role as environmental guardians, combating winds and preventing soil erosion, earning them the title "guardians of the desert." People in Xinjiang admire the tree for its enduring vitality, inheriting and passing down its spirit of resilience against harsh elements.

Desert poplar now is one of the most famous symbols of Xinjiang's culture. Yu Qiuyu, a famous Chinese scholar and writer, once praised the plant as having "resounding iron bones forged over a thousand years, an indomitable quality sung for eternity." A Chinese singer named Daolang also mentioned this plant in his work "Kashgar Poplar." Many tourists who travel to Xinjiang also mention that one of their goals is to take a look at this beautiful plant with their own eyes.

(Cover image via CFP, designed by CGTN's Jia Jieqiong.)