Ejiin

Ejiin, also romanized as Ejina or Ejin, commonly refers to Ejin Banner (Chinese: 额济纳旗), an autonomous banner of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in northwestern China. It is part of the Alxa League and lies in a desert–oasis corridor at the western edge of the region. The banner's administrative seat is Ejina Town. The area is known for the Heihe River valley and the surrounding Gobi Desert.

Geography and climate: Ejiin sits in an arid, continental climate zone with hot summers and cold winters. Annual precipitation is modest and concentrated in summer; evapotranspiration is high. The landscape combines riverine oases with dunes and shrub steppe, and it hosts the famous Populus euphratica forest along the Heuhe River.

Ecology and economy: The Heihe River valley sustains a narrow oasis where the native Euphrates poplar trees form extensive forests, a major ecological and tourist asset. The economy relies on irrigated agriculture and orchard crops in the oasis, pastoral animal husbandry in surrounding drylands, forestry, and growing tourism, especially to desert landscapes and the poplar forest.

Demographics and governance: The banner is governed as an autonomous banner within Inner Mongolia and is home to a mix of Han Chinese and ethnic Mongols, among other groups. The modern administrative unit has existed under the PRC since the mid-20th century.

Notable features: The Ejina Poplar Forest is a key natural landmark; desert scenery around the Ejina Basin attracts photographers and travelers, particularly during autumn when the poplars display color.