Director: Wang Hanbing

Synopsis

The desert poplar (Populus euphratica) is an ancient tree species with a history of 65 million years and a valuable forest resource unique to desert regions. It tolerates cold, drought and saline-alkali soil and resists wind and sand. With its strong vitality, it plays an important role in stabilizing the ecological balance of desert river zones, preventing wind erosion and fixing sand, regulating oasis climates and forming fertile forest soil. Living in the desert, these poplars keep adapting to a changing environment and constantly test the limits of survival. In a harsh environment they withstand the ultimate tests of drought, rising salinity, extreme heat and cold and increasing sandstorms. With a tenacious will to survive, they hold on to this land generation after generation, forming a green barrier and playing out a recurring story of life. The desert poplar is no longer just a tree of the Gobi or a sight in the desert; it is a banner of life, a witness to history, a carrier of culture and a symbol of spirit. Moving from admiration of the beauty of life to a warning about the loss of beautiful life: this is the purpose of my documentary Desert Poplars. Filming the poplars is not only about capturing beautiful scenery; it is about using the camera to record their fragile environment, their hard life course, and their inner spirit and enduring character, so that viewers are moved and inspired.