Insider Tips! Ejina Populus Euphratica Forest Lesser-Known Photo Spots Guide to Avoid Crowds and Enjoy Golden Romance

When the main sightseeing paths are crowded with tourists taking photos, I have already captured clean-background masterpieces at several lesser-known spots. This guide teaches you how to avoid 90% of the crowds and enjoy the autumn tranquility of the Populus euphratica forest alone.
【Itinerary Planning: Themed Route (Photography Special Line)】
My route is: Ruoshui Jinsha Bay (good morning light, fewer people) → Wudaoqiao in Ejina Populus Euphratica Forest Scenic Area (Folk Culture Park, good for cultural shots) → Badaoqiao Desert (afternoon shots combining poplars and desert) → Strange Forest (sunset silhouette shots). This route focuses more on light and composition.
【Highlights Recommendation: Hidden Activities】
✅ Ruoshui Jinsha Bay: Compared to the main scenic area, this place is more pristine, combining poplars, desert, and the Ruoshui River, offering rich scenery, especially suitable for large-scale landscape photography.
✅ Find a Single Tree: Don’t just focus on the forest patches. Spend time finding a uniquely shaped, solitary poplar standing alone in the sand, and use a telephoto lens to capture close-ups that reflect the poplar’s lonely and resilient spirit.
✅ Desert Camel Shadows: At Badaoqiao, you can pay to experience camel riding, but more importantly, you can photograph camel caravans walking over sand dunes with the golden poplar forest in the background, evoking a strong "Silk Road" atmosphere.
【Check-in Tips: Creating a Cinematic Feel】
Low-angle Shots: Crouch or even lie down, use a wide-angle lens close to the ground, with sand or fallen leaves as the foreground, to capture the tall poplar trees and vast sky, creating a strong visual impact.
Use Light and Shadow: Side backlighting around 3-4 PM is perfect for shooting poplars, as the light outlines the tree trunks and makes the leaves appear semi-transparent golden, full of texture.
Shoot Details: Don’t just shoot big trees. Capture close-ups of curled poplar leaves on the ground, cracked bark textures, and fallen leaves floating on water—these details better convey the autumn atmosphere.
Human Interaction: Let people walk into the frame, showing their backs or side profiles, contrasting with the huge poplar trees to tell a story of exploration and discovery.
【In-depth Experience Story】
At Ruoshui Jinsha Bay, I avoided the main road and walked deeper along the riverbank. In a completely deserted poplar forest, I found an extremely tall tree, half of its branches golden and the other half still green, very unusual. I sat under the tree, listening to the rustling leaves and flowing water, eating my packed lunch. At that moment, it felt like the whole world was mine. No tourist noise, only the sounds and breath of nature. This experience of being alone with the poplar forest is far more profound than taking a few check-in photos in a crowd.
【Practical Information: Pitfall Avoidance Guide⚠️】
Wind and Sand Protection: It’s best to bring masks, scarves, and windproof goggles, and protect your camera well—sand gets everywhere.
Environmental Protection: The poplar forest ecosystem is fragile; please do not climb trees, carve trunks, or litter.
Plan Time Reasonably: The scenic area is large, and shuttle buses require queuing, so allow enough time for the core scenic spots.
Food and Drink: There are few and expensive dining options inside the scenic area, so it’s recommended to bring your own snacks and water.
【Food and Accommodation🍽️🏡】
Food: You can try local lamb dishes such as hand-pulled lamb and roasted lamb chops, which are delicious.
Accommodation: If lodging in Ejina Banner town is fully booked or too expensive, consider staying in Dongfeng Aerospace City (Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center) dozens of kilometers away. The conditions are better but require daily commuting.
Avoid the crowds and explore Ejina with a photographer’s eye—you will discover a more captivating Ejina.