Basic Overview
The Flaming Mountain (Huoyanshan, Uyghur: Kiziltag meaning "Red Mountain") lies on the northern edge of the Turpan Basin, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a branch of the Tianshan Mountains. It is a national 4A scenic spot and national geopark, world-famous for extreme high temperature and the classic legend from Journey to the West.
Core Natural Features
1. Special Red Geological Landform
Formed 50–180 million years ago in Mesozoic orogenic movements, the mountain is mainly composed of reddish-brown sandstone and mudstone rich in iron oxide, creating its permanent fiery red colour. Long-term wind erosion and rain wash carve countless gullies and folds all over the slopes. Under intense sunlight, rising hot air waves make the whole mountain look like burning flames from a distance. The mountain stretches 98 km from east to west with a width of 9 km, average elevation 500 meters, and its highest peak reaches 831.7 meters above sea level. The mountain surface is completely barren with no plants growing at all.
2. The Hottest Land in China
It earns the reputation of China’s natural furnace with harsh arid desert continental climate:
The maximum air temperature hits 47.8℃ in summer, while the average ground surface temperature reaches 70℃, with a recorded extreme surface temperature of 89℃. Visitors can cook raw eggs buried in hot sand within 40 minutes.
It has 99 hot days over 35℃ and 28 scorching days over 40℃ every year. Annual precipitation is merely 16.6 mm, yet annual evaporation exceeds 3000 mm, leading to severe drought all year round抖音百科.
3. Sharp Contrast between Barren Mountain and Foot Oases
No wild animals or plants survive on the bare mountain slopes. However, valleys at the mountain foot (Grape Valley, Tuyugou Valley) rely on underground Karez water systems to form lush oases, forming a striking visual contrast between the blazing red bare mountain and green fertile valleys.
Cultural & Historical Features
1. Important Site on the Ancient Silk Road
It sits on the northern route of the ancient Silk Road. Nearby historical relics include Gaochang Ancient City and Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, recording the cultural and trade communication between China and Western regions in ancient times.
2. World-famous Mythological Culture
Immortalized by the Chinese classic novel Journey to the West, the story of Sun Wukong borrowing the plantain fan to put out mountain fires makes Flaming Mountain one of the most legendary scenic spots in China. The scenic area is equipped with a giant golden cudgel-shaped thermometer and groups of sculptures of Tang Monk and his disciples, becoming classic tourist symbols.
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