Published: 2026-07-20 | Author: Karl Huang
The short answer to Best Time to Visit Yuli is late September through early November. That is when the Populus euphratica along the Tarim River turn from green to gold and the whole county glows for about three weeks. I learned this the hard way on my first trip, when I showed up in late August and found the trees still green. Below I break down the seasons, how to get there, where to sleep, what to eat, and a one-day plan I have now run with readers four times.
Quick Reference
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Yuli County (尉犁县), Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, about 50 km north of Korla |
| Entry fee (Tarim Populus Euphratica Forest Park) | About 45 RMB ticket plus 30 RMB for the sightseeing train (verify before you go) |
| Best time | Mid-October to early November for golden poplars |
| Elevation / role | ~900 m on the Tarim River basin; gateway to the Taklamakan Desert edge |
My Experience in Yuli
I first drove to Yuli in August 2023. I had rented a white Chery from a lot in Korla for 220 RMB a day and followed the G218 north. The road is flat and straight, and after 47 kilometers a sign in both Uyghur and Chinese pointed to the county seat. What struck me first was the heat. The car thermometer read 39°C, and the poplars lining the irrigation ditches were a deep, almost dull green. Pretty, but not the postcard gold I had promised a friend back home.
I came back on October 21 of the same year. The difference was total. The Tarim Populus Euphratica Forest Park had turned the color of burnt copper. I paid 45 RMB at the gate and another 30 RMB for the little diesel train that rattles through the groves. An older couple from Urumqi told me they drive down every year for this window and that it rarely lasts past the first week of November. We watched the light go orange over the water and I understood why people plan whole trips around a tree.
Later that afternoon I visited the Lop Nur Village scenic area, where the descendants of the Lop people keep a small settlement of reed huts by the river. A vendor sold me a plate of grilled Tarim fish for 45 RMB and a wedge of Korla pear for almost nothing. That meal, eaten on a wooden bench with sand in my shoes, is still one of my favorite memories from two years of documenting this region.
How to Get There
Most travelers reach Yuli through Korla Travel Guide territory, because Korla is the transport hub for southern Xinjiang. From Korla you have three realistic options.
By car: This is what I recommend. Rentals in Korla start around 200 RMB a day in the off season and 320 RMB in October. The drive is 45 to 55 km depending on your exact destination and takes about an hour on the G218. Parking at both major sites is free or costs 5 to 10 RMB.
By bus: Long-distance buses leave Korla prefecture station for Yuli several times a day. The fare is around 18 RMB and the trip takes 70 to 90 minutes. Schedules thin out in the evening, so confirm the last return bus if you are not staying over.
By train and air: Korla has an airport with flights from Urumqi, Xi’an, Chengdu, and a few other cities, and it sits on the Southern Xinjiang Railway. From the Korla station you still need a car or bus for the final stretch to Yuli. There is no practical direct flight to Yuli itself.
If you are driving the classic southern Xinjiang route, Yuli sits between Korla and Kuqa Travel Guide territory on the way toward Kashgar, so it pairs well with the next leg if you have extra days.
Best Time to Visit Yuli
Spring (March to May): The poplars wake up green and the orchards around the county bloom, but wind is a real problem. I have stood in a March dust storm that cut visibility to a hundred meters. Temperatures run 12 to 26°C. It is workable if you want low crowds, but bring a mask and eye protection.
Summer (June to August): Hot and dry, with daytime highs of 35 to 40°C. The Tarim River carries its seasonal water, so the forest is lush rather than golden. Melons and pears are at their best. If you hate crowds and heat does not bother you, this is a quiet, green alternative to the October rush.
Autumn (September to November): This is the window. Leaves start tipping toward yellow in late September, hit full gold from about October 15 to November 5, then drop fast. Days are cool and clear, 12 to 24°C, perfect for walking the boardwalks. This is also the busiest period, so book transport and lodging early.
Winter (December to February): Cold, with lows near minus 15°C some nights. The poplars are bare, but after snow the white desert against dark trunks makes a calm, empty scene. Almost no services run at the forest park, and the Lop Nur Village may keep short hours. Go only if you specifically want solitude and winter photography.
My clear recommendation: plan for the third week of October. You get peak color, manageable weather, and you beat the absolute worst of the National Day crowds that hit in early October.
Where to Stay
Budget: Yuli county has small inns and family guesthouses where a clean double room runs 120 to 180 RMB a night. They are basic, with slow Wi-Fi and thin walls, but they put you close to the sites for sunrise. Book ahead in October, because rooms fill fast.
Mid-range: Most of my readers stay in Korla and day-trip. Korla is one of the larger Xinjiang cities, so a solid three-star hotel there costs 300 to 500 RMB and gives you better restaurants, reliable hot water, and a proper breakfast. The hour-long drive each way is easy on the G218.
Upper: Korla has a handful of four and five-star properties near the riverfront at 600 to 900 RMB. If you want a pool, gym, and a concierge who can arrange a private car to Yuli, this is the comfortable choice. I stayed at one during a November shoot and the heated garage alone was worth it on a frosty morning.
Food
Yuli eats like the rest of southern Xinjiang, with a river twist. Here is what I order and what it cost on my last visit.
Grilled Tarim river fish: caught locally and cooked over charcoal with cumin and chili. About 40 to 60 RMB a plate depending on size. The Lop Nur Village stalls do the best version.
Laghman (hand-pulled noodles): a bowl of thick noodles with tomato, pepper, and mutton. 25 to 35 RMB. I eat this for lunch almost every trip.
Korla fragrant pear (库尔勒香梨): small, juicy, and sweet. In season a kilo costs 5 to 10 RMB at the roadside stands.
Pilaf (抓饭): rice with carrot, raisin, and lamb shoulder. Around 30 RMB with a cup of black tea. A filling breakfast before a long walk.
Roast naan: 3 to 5 RMB from the corner ovens. Buy two and keep one for the forest park.
Roasted whole lamb: reserved in advance through a hotel or restaurant, priced by the kilo at roughly 80 to 110 RMB. Good for a group of six after a sunset shoot.
Practical Tips
- Time your trip for mid-October to early November, then confirm the current leaf status with a Korla hotel or the park line a few days before you leave, because the peak shifts with the weather.
- Decide where to sleep before you book anything else. Staying in Yuli saves the dawn drive; staying in Korla gives you comfort and more food choices.
- Rent a car in Korla rather than relying on the bus if you want to catch sunrise or sunset, since the last bus home leaves well before golden hour ends.
- Carry a dust mask and sunglasses in spring, and year-round bring sunscreen, a hat, and more water than you think you need. The basin sun is strong.
- Take the sightseeing train inside the forest park. The groves are larger than they look, and walking the full loop on foot will eat your light.
- Keep some cash. The small village stalls and the park’s outer vendors often do not take cards or foreign apps.
- Ask before flying a drone. Parts of the desert near Yuli sit close to restricted zones, and rangers will stop you.
Sample Itinerary
This is the one-day plan I now use with readers, based out of Korla.
07:30 – Leave Korla by rental car while it is still cool.
08:40 – Arrive at the Lop Nur Village scenic area; buy the 45 RMB ticket and walk the reed huts by the river for two hours.
11:00 – Drive 20 minutes into Yuli town for a laghman lunch and a pear from a roadside stand.
13:30 – Enter the Tarim Populus Euphratica Forest Park; board the train and then walk the boardwalk as the light warms.
17:00 – Set up for sunset along the water; this is the shot everyone came for.
18:40 – Drive back to Korla, or check into a Yuli guesthouse if you want sunrise the next morning.
If you have a second day, skip the drive back and shoot the groves at first light, when the mist sits low on the Tarim and the gold is at its softest.
FAQ
When is the best time to visit Yuli for the golden poplars?
Mid-October to early November is the reliable window. Late September starts the turn, and by the second week of November most leaves are down.
How do I actually get to Yuli?
Fly or take the train to Korla, then drive about 50 km north on the G218 or take a bus for roughly 18 RMB. There is no airport in Yuli itself.
Is Yuli worth it if I am not a photographer?
Yes. The Lop Nur Village shows a living river culture, the desert edge is open and quiet, and the food is cheap and good. The trees are the headline, but they are not the whole story.
How many days should I plan?
One full day works as a Korla day trip. Two days lets you catch both sunset and sunrise without a predawn drive.
What does the forest park cost?
Plan on about 45 RMB for entry and 30 RMB for the train, though prices change and you should check the official notice before you travel.
Can I visit in winter?
You can, and the bare trees against snow are striking, but services shrink and the park keeps limited hours. Dress for real cold.
Disclaimer
Entry fees, train fares, hotel rates, and the exact dates of the poplar color change all shift from year to year and were noted from my own trips in 2023 and 2024. Permits, opening hours, and prices can change without notice. Before you travel, verify current details through the official Xinjiang tourism channels and the sites themselves. This article shares personal experience and is not a substitute for official information.