Flaming Mountain is at the north fringe of the Turpan Basin. It was
called Red Rock Mountain for the dark red sandstone dominating the
area. Many years of volcanic activity have formed the unique
crisscrossing gullies and ravines. During mid-afternoon the heat
becomes intense as the sun's rays are reflected off the red rocks,
as though the hillsides are engulfed by tongues of fire, hence the
name.
The mountain stretches across the Turpan Basin from east to north
measuring 98 kilometers long, 9 kilometers wide. It located at an
altitude of around 500 meters with the highest point of 821 meters
close to Tuyugou.
Flaming Mountain was formed around a hundred million years ago. The
whole mountain contains nothing more than these reddish slopes and
gullies. At midday during summer time, the mountain looks like a
huge flying red dragon setting off fires in the fiery sun and
temperature can top 55 degree centigrade.
Flaming mountain is the hottest place in China and highest
temperature sometimes climbs to 48 degree centigrade and
temperature on the earth face occasionally reaches over 70 degree
centigrade. According to the famed Chinese novel Journey to the
West, when the Tang monk Xuanzang and his three reached this place,
fires raged for hundreds of miles. One of his followers, the Monkey
King extinguished the fire with a magical palm fan whisked from the
throat of the ever-protective Iron Fan Princess.
The foot of the mountain offers a great contrast to the barren,
lifeless mountain, where the Grape Gully, Peach Gully, Tuyu Gully
are located. These gullies are lush cultivated areas with greenery,
flowing rivers. When autumn comes, these regions feature sweet
fruits and ripe melons.
visitors can get there by bus.How to Get to there?
