Habah River Birch Forest Park

Habah River Birch Forest Park

Habah River Birch Forest Park is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Habah River Birch Forest Park is located in Qibar Township, Habah River, about 6 km west of the county town. A third-grade asphalt road runs through the birch forest, making transportation very convenient.

The birch forest is about 28 km long and 1.5 km wide, and is the largest naturally grown birch forest belt in northwestern China. It spreads along both sides of the Habah River after it exits the mountain pass and across the broad, shallow river floodplains formed where several streams converge.

Birch trees, scientifically known as Betula platyphylla, thrive in moist environments and are extremely cold-resistant. The forest typically has a lifespan of 150–250 years, with some individual trees living over 300 years. The birch trees in Habah River Birch Forest stand 20–40 m tall, with an average diameter at breast height of 30–40 cm and a canopy density of over 0.8, offering high ornamental value. Their slender white trunks appear noble and pristine from afar, and simple yet elegant up close. The park attracts visitors all year round. In spring and summer, the forest floor is covered with lush green grass dotted with wildflowers, while bees and butterflies flutter about. When autumn arrives, the refreshing breeze turns the birch leaves yellow and red, blanketing the forest floor with golden-red foliage that contrasts beautifully with the silver-white trunks and azure sky, creating a European-style oil painting that draws many photographers and painters to capture its beauty. In winter, the silvery, jade-like snowy landscape becomes a favorite spot for people to enjoy peaceful walks in the snow. Every April to May, the birch sap extracted from the trees is clear, transparent, sweet, and nutritious, known for its benefits to skin health and anti-aging properties, making it a premium health drink.

The environment is well-preserved, maintaining the most pristine appearance of a birch forest. In recent years, it has become a popular leisure destination for local residents after work and a much-desired attraction for visitors from elsewhere.

As the Habah River flows through areas such as Kuilebai Township, its current is relatively slow, causing birch tree seeds to fall into the water and take root wherever they drift. The river meanders, forming sandbars in the middle, which become covered with birch trees. Over time, it becomes hard to tell where the river ends and the birch forest begins—whether the river winds through the forest or the forest grows within the river. Over hundreds of years, around Kuilebai Township and Qibar Township, just 6 km from the county town and surrounding the Habah River, a vast natural birch forest has formed, stretching 28 km in length, 1.5 km in width, and covering tens of thousands of acres.

Address: Qibar Township, Habah River County

Phone: 0906-6627218