ERPH 2027

Home to distinctive natural and cultural treasures, Tarim presents remarkable attractions for academic visitors. The Taklamakan Desert, known as "Sea of Death", features immense shifting sand dunes; crossdesert highways grant access to observe desert landforms and aridzone ecoenvironmental changes. The Tarim River, China's longest endorheic river, is celebrated for sprawling Populus euphratica (Euphrates poplar) forests. These droughtresistant ancient trees turn golden in autumn, forming spectacular riverdesertoasis landscapes and serving as key sites for desert ecosystem research. The Kizil CaveTemple Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site, represents the earliest largescale Buddhist grottoes in western China. Carved from the 3rd to 9th century CE, its wellpreserved murals reflect ancient Qiuci art and cultural communication along the Silk Road. Further east stand the mysterious Loulan Ancient City Ruins, relics of a prosperous ancient SilkRoad kingdom buried by desert, drawing scholars focusing on environmental evolution and ancient civilizations. The Luobu People's Village preserves unique indigenous folk culture shaped by desertriver surroundings. Travellers may also view Yardang landforms shaped by wind erosion. Integrating desert, river, forest and millenniaold cultural relics, these sites deliver valuable fieldobservation opportunities for scholars engaged in environmental science, ecology and publichealthrelated studies.