Turpan - Flaming Mountains

The Flaming Mountains, lying in the middle of the Turpan Depression and running from east to west, are one of the mountain ranges of the Tianshan Mountains and were formed in the organic movements of the Himalayas fifty million years ago.

It has taken millions of years for natural aging and numerous weather belts caused by the crystal movements to form the undulating ravines and the crisscross gullies of the Flaming Mountains. Under the blazing sun, the red rock glows and hot air curls up like smoke appearing as it were on fire giving it its name. The mountain range is 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.

The Flaming Mountains are so hot and so dry that it is said even flying birds 500 kilometers away dare not to come near yet the mountains also act like a giant natural dam of the underground reservoir in the basin.

Situated on the north route of the ancient Silk Road, the Flaming Mountains have many cultural relics with numerous ancient tales often told. In recent years, the number of visitors to hike the mountains has been on the increase resulting in an upsurge of Flaming Mountains tours.