Flaming Mountain

Chinese name: 火焰山（Huo Yan Shan）
Location: about 28km from Gaochang District, Turpan, Xinjiang.
Ticket: Entrance ticket CNY40.00
Estimated tour time:1 hour
Recommended time to visit: May to Oct 
Nearby attractions: Grape Gully, Jiaohe Ancient Town, Sugong Pagoda, etc.

The Flame Mountain is located in the middle of the Turpan Basin with a length of 98 kilometers in the east and west direction and a width of nine kilometers in the north and south direction，are one of the branch ranges of the Tianshan Mountains and were formed in the organic movements of the Himalayas fifty million years ago.  It has an altitude of 851 meters at the highest point and the main peak is about twelve kilometers away from the Lianmuqin Town of Shanshan County in the west. It was formed during the period of the mountain building movement of Himalaya and was mainly formed by red sandstones. There is no plant like trees or grass on the mountain the whole mountain body is red.

The Flaming Mountains are so hot and so dry that " flying birds even 500 kilometers away dare not to come". Yet, the mountains at the same time act like a giant natural dam of the underground reservoir in the basin.In the Uighur language, the Flame Mountain is called "Kezletage" which means "Red Mountain" in Chinese.

In millions of years, the natural weathering and the numerous folded belts caused by the crystal movements have formed the undulating lie and the crisscross gullies and ravines of the Flaming Mountains. Under the blazing sun, the red rock glows and hot air curls up like smoke as though it were on fire, hence its name. The mountains are 98 kilometers long and 9 kilometers wide. The highest peak is 40 kilometers east of the city of Turpan and 831.7 meters above sea level.

Situated on the north route of the ancient Silk Road, the Flaming Mountains have many cultural relics and often told ancient tales. In recent years, the number of visitors to the mountains has been on the increase and clamoring to go on the Flaming Mountains tour has arisen.In the sunshine of burning sun, the terra gas is rising and the smoke and cloud is wreathing, which looks like a burning flaming fire and is very magnificent.