The poplar forest in the Taklimakan Desert in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China, has turned golden. Many visitors have gone to witness the stunning scenery. As a natural guardian of the ecological system in the desert, the poplar forest once faced a survival crisis, as prolonged droughts nearly wiped the trees out. Thanks to the seasonal meltwater irrigation project launched by the local government, the poplar forest has been revitalized.