Flaming Mountain
» Turpan, Xin Jiang

火焰山 一片青烟一片红,炎炎气焰欲烧空

Located on the northern edge of the Turpan Basin, Flaming Mountain runs 10 kilometers east of Turpan city, stretching up to 100 kilometers from east to west and about 10 kilometers from south to north. The mountain begins at Liusha River in Shanshan County in the east and ends in Peach Valley in the west.

The mountain's average altitude is about 500 meters, with the highest peak, Shengjinkou, towering 831 meters above sea level. Known as Red Rock Mountain in ancient Chinese classics or Keziletage in Uygur, Flaming Mountain is largely made up of bare rock. 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.

What to appreciate

The impressive Flaming Mountain

Flaming Mountain was formed around a hundred million years ago. The whole mountain contains nothing more than these reddish slopes and gullies and there are no traces of birds or animals there. Looking over the mountain from a distance, under the sunlight, the heat wave and the floating clouds will make you have the illusion that the mountain is on fire.

  • In summer
    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 - hence its name, Flaming Mountain. Walking in the hottest place on earth, people will need to have a pair of thick bottom fire resistant boots. People from Xinjiang Province said, "You can fry eggs in the sand and bake the bread in the wilderness." The Flaming Mountain is one of the hottest places in the world in the summer.
  • In winter
    In winter, when the snow falls, the mountain will remain its appearance without any snow or ice on it. If you are climbing the mountain, you will get the feeling that the heat wave rising from the earth and going through your body. What a marvelous mountain. No wonder, that Wu Chengeng, a writer in Ming Dynasty (1386 - 1644), introduced it into his great novel Journey to the West.

The natural attractions - enchanting valleys

The natural allure of Flaming Mountain is not characterized by mere heat. Behind the sterile rock mountains, there are many hidden valleys shaped by diastrophism millions of years ago. These valleys which abound with various plants and trees create a great contrast to the barren, lifeless mountain. The most famous ones include Grape Valley, Peach Valley, Wood Valley and Shengjinkou Valley which are lush cultivated areas with greenery, flowing rivers. When autumn comes, these regions feature sweet fruits and ripe melons. Among them, Grape Valley is best known for producing the best grapes in the country. These "green islands" add extra glamour and diversity to the deserted Flaming Mountain.

Because of the short daylight time, the deep valley block the hot sunlight, the valley is a cool green place. Many clear spring water flow out of the ground, and went on irrigates the whole valley. People live in the area depend on those springs, they also use it to farm lands and grow crops like grapes, peach, melon etc. These green valleys are rich with waters, villages and sweet tasting fruits. They are like a green precious stone lying in the gate of the red Flaming Mountain, displaying magnificent views. So, if you are traveling in the Flaming Mountain, do not miss these green valleys.

Great cultural traditions

Besides its unique natural attractions, the region has always had great cultural traditions. Many historians have penned poems about this mountain. Lying beside the ancient Silk Road, the mountain has witnessed the thriving moments and the abandonment of the ancient commercial road that has linked the East and West for hundreds of years. Famous poet - Cen Sen
The famous poet Cen Sen of the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) once presented a poem when passing by: "The mountain abruptly appears at the mouth of Chiting; the cloud of the flames pileups in May. The mountain is yet to be inhabited; even birds dare not fly by." Outstanding traveler Chen Cheng
In the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), the outstanding traveler Chen Cheng also composed a poem on his way through the region: "It's only early spring, but the weather is no different from midsummer." These two lines vividly depict the indistinctive climate in the four seasons on Flaming Mountain.

The legend

People have created abundant legends about the emergence of this natural wonder. These old legendary stories make this mountain unique, attractive and with lots of room for wild imagination.

About Sun Wukong

The most famous story about Flaming Mountain comes from one of the four major classic novels Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en of the Ming Dynasty. In the novel, Tang Xuanzang and his disciples meet tremendous hardships when they pass by Flaming Mountain on their way to the west. They cannot penetrate the flames and Sun Wukong, Tang's oldest disciple, procures a magical palm-leaf fan from Princess Iron Fan, wife of the Ox Demon King (two fictional figures in the novel) and waves it 49 times, causing heavy rains to extinguish the fire.

To commemorate Tang Xuanzang and his companions who have made great contributions to Flaming Mountain's reputation, serial statues featuring the mythological figures have been erected under the mountain in 1998. Sun Wukong is positioned in the front, carrying the magic palm-leaf fan; Tang Xuanzang and his other disciples are also vividly portrayed, bringing the mythological story to tourists.

The origin of another name - Red Mountain

According to a famous Uygur legend, there was once an evil dragon hidden deep in Tianshan Mountain who liked to eat young children. The top local governor sent Halahezhuo to bring the dragon under control. After a heated and breathtaking battle that lasted for three days and nights, Halahezhuo conquered the dragon and cut it into 10 pieces. The dead dragon was then transformed into a mountain and his wounds became valleys; the creature's blood turned all of the rocks deep red. In Uygur, the mountain is therefore called "Red Mountain."

Attractions around » Turpan, Xin Jiang

Natural Scene

Natural Scene

Historical Site

Historical Site

Cultural Site

Cultural Site

Mountain

Mountain

Nature Reserve & Scenic Area

Nature Reserve & Scenic Area

  Weather

  1. When is the best time to go?

  Customs

  1. What are some interesting festivals?
  2. Mind these customs and taboos

  Other Hints

  1. A couple of notes for packing
  2. A note on the time difference
  3. Emergency Numbers
  4. Useful Numbers

  • When is the best time to go?

    The best time for visiting is between July and August when the fruit crops are ripe.

    Turpan is well-known for its high temperatures and is also called 'Huo Zhou' (a place as hot as fire). The city is located in Turpan Basin, the hottest as well as the lowest elevation in China; just 98 ft above sea level. The climate is dry, hot and windy with an average rainfall of only 0.9 inches per year. Because of its unique geographical position, the city enjoys very high temperature and very little precipitation. The summers here are long and usually begin in April and end in August. June, July and August are the hottest months with an average temperature above 38C (100.4F) and the recorded highest temperature is 49.6C (121.28F).


  • What are some interesting festivals?

    Grape Festival
    Turpan is renowned for the quality of the fruit grown here and the sweetness of the grapes. Just as the name implies, the grape is the subject of the festival which is held in August each year and lasts for a month. During the festival, you can feel the happiness of harvest in every corner of the city. The grapes of hundreds of varieties are ripe and hang on the vines, waiting for you to enjoy. Amongst them, the white grape without seeds is the favourite one and it is praised as the 'green pearl of China'. In addition to enjoying the sweet grapes you can take in traditional Uygur performances in the festival, such as the wedding ceremony of Uygur and the dancing performances in Tang Dynasty (618-907). Grape Valley is the best option for you to celebrate the festival.

    Eid al Fitr (the Festival of Fast-Breaking)
    This fast is one of the five pillars of Islam and Eid al Fitr is the first day after 30 days' fast. The festival is celebrated on the 1st of October according to the Moslem calendar, and lasts for three days. It is an important festival among the Moslems. On the first morning of the festival, people gather together in the mosque to pray. And then, they wear national costumes to call on their relatives and friends. During the festival, people will butcher fat stocks and cook some traditional snacks to satisfy their stomach.

    Eid al Adha (the Feast of the Sacrifice)
    The festival is on 10th December according to the Moslem calendar and it is the last day for pilgrimage. In the early morning, all men go to mosque to pray. It is the most important divine service with a largest scale all year round. During the festival, each family should slaughter a sheep, a cow or a camel. And families and friends would gather together to sing and dance happily. Of course, they will also enjoy a sumptuous meal together. After the meal, they often visit the grave to honor the memory of ancestors


  • Mind these customs and taboos

    When traveling in Turpan, you should pay attention to Muslim customs and taboos in particular.

    • Do not poke the food in dishes or get close to the kitchen.
    • Never eat pork or talk about pigs when a Muslim is present.
    • Do not wear clothing that is short and too revealing.

    When receiving something, you should use both of your hands to show your thanks and respect to the host.

  • A couple of notes for packing

    1. Although the temperature is high in the day time, you should take a long sleeved shirt as temperatures here vary greatly between day and night.

    2. As the temperature is very high in the summer, it is necessary for you to take a hat, sunglasses and sun-bloc to avoid being burnt.

    3. If you are used to wearing contact lenses, please bring a pair of glasses with you due to the hot dry weather.


  • A note on the time difference

    Although the clock time in Xinjiang is the same as Beijing time, there is two hours difference because of the longitude. You should modify your rest and dinning times two hours later as compared with staying in the central part of China.


  • Emergency Numbers

    • Fire: 119
    • Police: 110
    • Ambulance: 120
    • Traffic: 122


  • Useful Numbers

    • Consumers Complaint Line of the Turpan Consumers' Association: 123154
    • Tour Complaints: 8523216
    • Time Inquiry: 117
    • Telephone Number Inquiry: 114
    • Weather Forecast: 121
    • Railway Inquiry: 8642233
    • Tourist Bureau of Turpan Region: 8523653 / 8523663
    • Tourist Bureau of Turpan City: 8520171.


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 - hence its name, Flaming Mountain.

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