In the Seventh Bridge area of the Ejina Populus Euphratica Forest Scenic Area, there is a grove of young Populus euphratica trees that locals call the “Dream Forest.”

While the Populus euphratica in other parts of Ejina are still waiting for autumn to arrive, the leaves here are already the first to turn yellow. Unlike the stately old trees elsewhere in the scenic area, the Populus euphratica in the Dream Forest are mostly young and slender, exceptionally sensitive to temperature changes— which is why this is the first place in all of Ejina to turn gold.

As you walk along the wooden boardwalk through the grove, the name “Dream Forest” doesn't feel like an exaggeration. Sunlight filters down through the dense golden leaves, dappling the ground in gold; when the wind blows, the leaves rustle, and the whole forest seems to breathe softly. The Populus euphratica here may not be ancient or imposing individually, but as a whole, they are remarkably uniform and dense. When the grove turns fully golden, it looks like an overturned palette, with an intense visual impact. The deeper you go along the boardwalk, the fewer people there are, and the purer the scenery becomes.

In the early morning, before the mist has lifted, the whole grove looks as if it's draped in a thin veil, golden leaves half-veiled by the mist. There are shallow pools among the trees; when the wind is still, the Populus euphratica forest is reflected perfectly in the water. Compared with the Reflection Forest at the Second Bridge, the reflections here are quieter, more undisturbed.

The best time to visit is between October 5 and 15, when over 90 percent of the leaves have turned yellow and the colors are at their most saturated. From 9 a.m. to noon, the light is soft and translucent, falling from the upper side—ideal for portraits among the trees, where the texture of the Populus euphratica trunks stands out and the forest feels deep and layered.