Flaming Mountains

A road trip to The Flaming Mountains, the hottest place in China where temperatures can reach over 80 degrees Celsius in the summer. These mountains form the northern boundary of the Turpan Depression, making it the second or third lowest point on the planet. In the summer, when the waves of desert heat dance over the red stripes, it quite literally looks like flaming mountains! Not only is this place interesting geographically, it is also where the famous movie "Journey to the West" was filmed. Many historians come here just to learn more about the ancient silk-road era. It's definitely a very difficult place to reach, but the geography and landscapes are some of the most unique in the world! Would you road trip to these flaming mountains? 📍The Flaming Mountains, Turpan, Xinjiang 📸 ig @cherstravels #awesomepic #campingglamping #mytripvlog #summervacation #passionpassport #celebratewithtrip

Welcome to the 'Hometown of Melons and Fruits', 'Key Point on the Silk Road'—Turpan. Here, the magnificence of the Flaming Mountains and the sweetness of the Grape Valley weave together a colorful tapestry, where the weight of history and the vitality of modernity collide and blend, bringing you a feast for both the eyes and the palate. 🌍【Highlight Attractions Revealed One by One】 1. Flaming Mountains: Visit the site where Sun Wukong borrowed the banana fan three times in 'Journey to the West', and feel the scorching and spectacular geological wonder. The red sandstone layers rise up, as if they are the passionate poems of the earth. 2. Jiaohe Ancient City: One of the world cultural heritages, stroll through the world's largest, oldest, and best-preserved raw-soil architecture city, as if time has reversed, returning to the prosperous heyday of the ancient Silk Road. 3. Grape Valley: The shade of green trees, bunches of grapes hanging on the trellises, this is the sweet heart of Turpan. You can taste the fresh and mellow seedless white grapes and experience the joy of picking them by hand. 4. Karez Wells: Explore the crystallization of a thousand years of wisdom, and understand how the ancients ingeniously excavated an underground irrigation system, bringing life to the arid desert oasis. 👩‍🍳【Gastronomic Exploration, Turpan on the Tip of Your Tongue】 In Turpan, food is an indispensable part of the journey. Not to be missed are the fragrant and crispy roasted whole lamb, the delicate taste of nang pit meat, the refreshing and sweet mare's milk grapes, and the unique Hami melons. In addition, don't forget to try the authentic Uyghur hand-pulled rice and mutton bubble bread, letting your taste buds dance in the rich flavors of the Western Regions. 🚗【Travel Tips, Easy and Worry-Free Transportation】 Turpan is located in the central part of Xinjiang, only about a two-hour drive from Urumqi International Airport. The distances between major attractions in the city are moderate, and it is recommended to choose chartered cars or self-driving for a more flexible itinerary. In addition, there are multiple trains to and from Urumqi and surrounding cities at Turpan Railway Station, making transportation convenient. 📝【Recommended Itinerary, In-Depth Experience Journey】 Day 1: Arrive in Turpan, visit the Flaming Mountains, and tour the Karez Folk Park in the evening. Day 2: Spend the whole day visiting Jiaohe Ancient City, and taste local specialties at night. Day 3: Enjoy Grape Valley, experience the fun of picking, and buy some special agricultural products as souvenirs before returning in the afternoon. Turpan, a city with unique charm, awaits you to unveil its mysterious veil and savor the cultural heritage and natural beauty that spans thousands of years. Pack your bags and join us in leaving unforgettable travel memories on this hot land! 【Special Reminder】The above itinerary is for reference only and can be adjusted according to personal preferences and actual situations. I wish you a pleasant journey and a rewarding experience!

Popularised by the classic Chinese novel, Journey to the West, the Flaming Mountains near Turpan - in Xinjiang province - are renowned for their fiery red appearance.⠀ ⠀ During the day, under the blazing sunlight, the mountains glow and seemingly burn, with hot air swirling into the air - implying the notion that they are, indeed, on fire. During the summer months, the Flaming Mountains become the hottest place in China, and not even a single blade of grass dares to grow.⠀ ⠀ 📍Flaming Mountains, Turpan, Xinjiang, China #leaveyourmark #urbanexplorer

North of Xinjiang is Altay Where the wild mountain breeze blows South of Xinjiang is Kashgar Where the exotic human warmth settles And in Turpan to the east of Tianshan Mountains Lies an underestimated civilization and scenery Desert, Gobi, canyon, village... Here hides more unknown past and mystery If you are considering Turpan as your travel destination Then I definitely won't recommend you to visit the Flaming Mountains Instead, I recommend you to visit this millennium-old village—Mazha Village 🚄 Transportation tips: Depart from Urumqi in the morning, take a high-speed train or train, one hour by high-speed train, two hours by train, and you will arrive at the beautiful Turpan North Station! After exiting the station, carpooling services are readily available, with a day trip carpool costing about 100 yuan. Want more freedom? Charter a car for 300-400 yuan, or take a dedicated route bus. 🎫 Ticket: 30r/person 🚗 Parking: Free 📷 Recommended photo spots ✅ The Grand Mosque Considered a landmark here, not open to the public, but has an exotic feel ✅ Maimaiti's Yard A folk store with unique handicrafts, great for taking photos ✅ Hoca Mausoleum Also known as the Saint's Tomb, it is said to have a history of over 1300 years ✅ Parking lot You can capture the entire village landscape, a good spot for photography Mazha Village is suitable for a leisurely stroll It's a niche attraction in Turpan that I personally think is worth visiting 🚘1⃣️ Day tour route Urumqi——Turpan——Flaming Mountains——Mazha Village——Kumtag Desert——Shanshan——Urumqi 🎈Turpan city has attractions like the Karez Wells (Ticket: 40r/person), Mummy Museum (Ticket: Free), etc., which I personally find average 🎈Flaming Mountains (Ticket: 40r/person) are not recommended for buying tickets, just check-in and take photos outside, the Thousand Buddha Caves behind the mountains (Ticket: 40r/person) feel more worth it, with more photogenic scenery! 🎈Kumtag Desert (Ticket: 30r/person) is the only desert in the world connected to a city, personally I think it's quite good for taking photos, you can experience off-road vehicles (160r/person) which is quite thrilling 🎈Urumqi——Turpan——Shanshan all have direct high-speed trains, transportation is very convenient 🎈Turpan day trip carpool is about 100r/person, we chartered a car, about 300 per person, for your reference 🎈The temperature is quite high, remember to protect yourself from the sun Food Section 🥘 Suleiman Mixed Noodles —— Authentic Turpan flavor Suleiman Mixed Noodles opposite the museum, both pilaf and barbecue are very delicious, and the baked buns next door are also a must-try delicacy. 🥟 🍧 Yogurt Shaved Ice —— Coolness of summer On the streets of Turpan, you can see yogurt shaved ice carts everywhere, with a price of 5 yuan per cup which is very affordable. The real yogurt shaved ice has a pure taste and is an excellent summer refreshment. If you don't like it too sweet, you can ask the boss to put less honey and more yogurt, sweet and sour, for a better taste. 🥤 👗 Dressing advice: The climate in Turpan is variable, it is recommended to wear light and comfortable clothing, and it is strongly recommended to bring a hat and sunglasses, which can not only protect from the sun but also take beautiful photos!

Xinjiang, the largest provincial administrative region in China, has a rich and diverse natural scenery and cultural landscape. Here are the ten must-visit attractions in Xinjiang, come and see if there are any attractions you like 1⃣Tianshan Tianchi: Located at the national scenic spot on the half hillside of Bogda Peak, it is an area of 160 square kilometers with four complete vertical natural landscape belts. 2⃣Kanas Lake: The lake is clear and green, surrounded by mountains, and is known as a "paradise on earth". The tourist route can choose Jiadenyu——Halfway Inn——Hemu Village——Black Lake——Kanas and so on. 3⃣Sayram Lake: Known as the "last tear of the Atlantic", it is the largest alpine lake in Xinjiang. 4⃣Bayinbuluke Grassland: It is the largest grassland in China, known as the "world's pasture". 5⃣Colorful Beach: Because the rock layer on the shore contains various minerals, it presents a colorful scene under the sun. 6⃣Flaming Mountain: Located in the middle of the Turpan Basin, it is named for its mountain color like fire. 7⃣Karez: It is an underground water irrigation project created by the ancient people of Xinjiang, known as the "crystallization of human wisdom". 8⃣Lavender Museum: You can enjoy the lavender fields characteristic of Xinjiang. 9⃣Turpan Grape Valley: Grapes are abundant here, and the scenery is pleasant. 🔟International Grand Bazaar: It is the largest market in Xinjiang, where you can buy a variety of Xinjiang specialties and handicrafts.

Experience Xinjiang this summer and autumn! For those friends who want to travel to Xinjiang from May to October and still don't know how to plan, hurry up and copy this homework! In Northern Xinjiang, you can see the pure nature, snow-capped mountains, grasslands, flowers, blue sky and white clouds with a natural filter, as if you were in a fairy tale world. For example, you can visit Sayram Lake, Nalati Grassland, and have afternoon tea at Qiongkushitai, hike in Xiatage, participate in markets and feel the original grassland tribes, and experience the unique life of the Uyghur and Kazakh people. 13-Day Loop of Northern and Southern Xinjiang DAY1: Nationwide - Urumqi DAY2: Urumqi - Return to Tianshan Tianchi - Burqin DAY3: Burqin - Kanas. Burqin - Jiadengyu DAY4: Jiadengyu - Return to Hemu Scenic Area DAY5: Hemu - Return to Multicolored Beach - Burqin DAY6: Burqin - Return to World Devil City - Bahang Camp - Jinghe DAY7: Jinghe - Return to Sayram Lake - Kuitun DAY8: Kuitun - Return via Duku Highway to Nalati Air Grassland Nalati DAY9: Nalati - Return to Bayinbuluk Grassland DAY10: Bayinbuluk - Return to Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon - Kuqa DAY11: Kuqa - Return to Loulan Village. Korla DAY12: Korla - Return to Kumtag Desert - Shanshan DAY13: Shanshan - ◎Flaming Mountains Scenic Area - Return to Grape Valley - Urumqi

Being in the second deepest depression point, the temperature itself is referred as the Turpan depression here. Turpan is "the" hottest place in China and it derived it's name from the Turpan volcano which once flowed here a long ago. As we started to thinking about the Xinjiang expedition, the first place came to my mind is Turpan. Although back in home was also hot, even I couldn't bear this heat. Also in the history of China, this land has been ruled by many kingdoms and it has seen so many wars. For a while, I just questioned myself whether I'm in Mars or Earth; such is the effect of this landscape. Be prepared for a sweating tour guys #urbanexplorer #leaveyourmark #xinjiangtravel #urbanexplorer#leaveyourmark

【Introduction】: ◆ The scenery of the Ili region is the most representative and popular in Xinjiang. From May, the grasslands of Ili begin to turn green, with vast seas of flowers and clouds that seem to come straight out of an anime. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe that such beautiful scenery exists in the world. 🛬【Itinerary】: Kanas Ili 10-Day Tour 1 - Urumqi - Burqin Attractions - Wulungu Lake - Colorful Beach Sunset Accommodation - Burqin Colorful Beach 2 - Burqin - Hemu Attractions - Haden Viewing Platform - Aid Bridge Accommodation - Hemu Hemu Scenic Area 3 - Hemu - Kanas Attractions - Kanas Lake - Guanyu Pavilion Accommodation - Kanas Kanas Burqin 4 - Kanas - Burqin Attractions - Kanas Three Bays - Burqin River Night Market Accommodation - Burqin 5 - Burqin - Kuitun Attractions - Devil City Accommodation - Kuitun World Devil City 6 - Kuitun - Yining Attractions - Sayram Lake - Guozigou Bridge Accommodation - Yining Sayram Lake 7 - Yining - Nalati Attractions - Nalati Grassland Accommodation - Nalati Nalati Tourist Scenic Area 8 - Nalati - Bayinbulak Attractions - Bayinbulak Accommodation - Bayinbulak Bayinbulak Grassland 9 - Bayinbulak - Kuitun Attractions - Duku Highway - Tangbula Accommodation - Kuitun Duku Highway 10 - Kuitun - Urumqi Attractions - Anjihai Grand Canyon - Hundred Mile Danxia - S101 National Defense Highway Accommodation - Urumqi Anjihai Grand Canyon 🧡【Tips】: 💬 For more customized routes, feel free to leave a message or contact me👇🏻

The famous Flame Mountain was formed about 14.1 billion years ago, during the lateral movement of the Earth's crust, leaving behind countless fold belts and the effects of natural wind erosion and rain erosion, creating the undulating terrain and crisscrossing ravines of the Flame Mountain. It is located on the northern edge of the Turpan Basin, on the northern route of the ancient Silk Road. The main peak is over 830 meters above sea level. Here, not a blade of grass grows, and birds are nowhere to be seen. In the scorching summer, the red sun hangs high in the sky, and the reddish-brown mountain body glows under the blazing sun, with the hot air tumbling and rising, resembling roaring flames and licking tongues of fire. The entire mountain range looks like a burning flame, with tongues of fire licking the sky, presenting the grandeur and magnificence of nature. Wu Cheng'en's 'Journey to the West', which tells the story of Tang Sanzang and his disciples' pilgrimage to the Western Heaven for scriptures, became widely popular. In chapters fifty-nine and sixty, the story of 'Tang Sanzang's journey being blocked by the Flame Mountain, Sun Wukong adjusting the banana fan three times' adds a layer of mystery to the Flame Mountain. The temperature of Flame Mountain is extremely high, reaching up to 70 degrees, and eggs can even be cooked in the sand pits. However, in the valleys of Flame Mountain, there is shade from the greenery, babbling streams, and the fragrance of melons and fruits. The natural landscape and historical and cultural heritage of Flame Mountain are astonishing, making it a dazzling pearl on the ancient Silk Road.

After many years, I have come to the beautiful Xinjiang once again. The summer in Yili is as beautiful as Hayao Miyazaki's animations, frame by frame, step by step, all so touching. This time, a 7-day trip was arranged, which was enjoyable, free, and happy. DAY1: Urumqi—Turpan—Kumtag Desert Coming to Turpan to feel the hottest sun, the uniform red brick and mud buildings, the cultural streets with strong Western Region style, eating the sweetest watermelons in Turpan in summer, running freely in the desert, the fine soft sand, leaving footprints with every step, the stacked sand sea in the distance, the blue sky, and the intermittent small green plants in the sand sea complement each other, creating a picturesque scene. DAY2: Turpan—Flaming Mountains—Shihezi 1. The story of Journey to the West has accompanied me since childhood. Visiting the scenic spot, I personally experienced every scene in the drama, so real and yet so dreamy. I never thought that one day I could be so immersed in the scenes of the master and disciples' journey to the West from TV dramas and storybooks, fulfilling a small childhood dream. 2. I've heard of Shihezi University, and this is my first visit to Shihezi, a lively city with a sense of life. By chance, I arrived on June 1st, and had some beer with friends at yue pub, listened to the live singing, and spent a special Children's Day together. The happiness among friends is just that simple. DAY3: Turpan—Duku Highway—Tangbula Fairy Lake 1. Lucky baby, I caught up with the opening of the Duku Highway. This year, Duku opened early, and I was shocked by the natural landscapes along the way. The Duku Highway is indeed a masterpiece of nature, and the martyrs sacrificed their wisdom and hardworking hands to fully present this natural magic and beauty for us to stop and admire, inspiring awe. 2. Tangbula Fairy Lake, my friends rode horses up the mountain, and we caught a small hailstorm, which was a unique experience in life. DAY4: Narat—Valley Grassland—Sky Grassland Driving into the scenic area was really cool. The valley grassland of Narat is so beautiful, with snow-capped mountains, forests, grasslands, blue sky, and sunshine—all the good elements of travel gathered in one day. Cattle, sheep, and horses running freely, nature showed us a series of vivid and dreamy paintings, the green grassland, the snow-capped mountains with unthawed snow on the distant peaks shining in the sunlight, showing their beauty. Under the sunset glow, the freely running horses were so unrestrained and handsome. At this moment, I felt that this trip was worth it, and I was happy. DAY5: Narat—Kazanqi—Six-Star Street The blue of Kazanqi is its unique signature, the healing blue. Taking photos against the blue walls and red and blue windows, super photogenic. Of course, what surprised me even more was Six-Star Street, with lots of delicious food. Different from Kazanqi, its windows and walls are blue, green, and red, with more colorful and diverse colors, making it more suitable for checking in and taking photos. DAY6: Sayram Lake The last tear of the Atlantic, a dazzling pearl, the azure blue lake water, driving on the road of Sayram Lake, I exclaimed how beautiful it was. The colorful words of this world are not enough to praise it. It is so pure and beautiful, like a dignified and calm lady, like a cute and exquisite girl, like an elder quietly telling stories about it, peaceful and beautiful, loved and cherished. DAY7: Anjihai Grand Canyon The fractured canyon area still deeply shocked me. This place is suitable for drone photography to capture the grandeur of the canyon. Just like that, the 7-day journey covered only a small part of Xinjiang. The last time I came to Yili, I also visited Kanas and Bayinbuluk, with the same surprises that remain in my mind and heart. I really love this land so much. Xinjiang is truly worth checking in countless times. Its beauty needs every stopping person to experience and feel with their heart. The distance is far, but it's worth it. Accommodation: Narat Liao Xin Homestay Turpan City Boutique Home Hotel Cuisine: Narat Mr. Chen's Small Restaurant Yining City Qing Zhi Kou Xinjiang Cuisine Valley Secret Roast Flaming Mountain Famous Yellow Noodles Barbecue

Some say At the end of the world, there lies the entrance to paradise But the world has no end And we have never seen such an entrance Fortunately, the universe favors this planet Leaving mankind a place Called Xinjiang The legendary Flame Mountain. 🌋 With temperatures over forty degrees, scorching sun, evaporation, suffocation. The highest temperature I've ever experienced in my life, minutes away from heatstroke. It turns out the ground color at 48°+ is truly flame red Journey to the West didn't lie to me!! Without a banana fan, one can only be slowly evaporated... On the road, I saw local Xinjiang aunties and uncles burying themselves up to their waists in mud under the Flame Mountain; we thought our eyes were deceiving us, but upon asking, they said it was to treat rheumatism Another wave of amazement❗NB, forgive me for even finding breathing difficult Turpan, with hardly any decent rainfall throughout the year, aside from a few seasonal rivers, there are no other water sources here. Yet, this place is abundant with grapes, Hami melons, and other fruits. Where does the water come from? The water comes from the underground 'Karez' wells. Since the Han dynasty, locals have been digging these underground water collection wells and channels, transporting snow and groundwater from afar to agricultural areas and villages. Today, the crisscrossing Karez wells extend over five thousand kilometers, turning the extremely arid Gobi desert into a lush oasis of fruits.

In Northern Xinjiang, there are heavenly sights such as Kanas Lake, the idyllic Hemu Village, Sayram Lake on the grassland, the colorful Beach of Five Colors, and the forbidden land of Wuerhe. DAY1: Urumqi~Desert Highway~Ulungur Lake~Burqin DAY2: Burqin~Hemu~Hemu Village DAY3: Hemu Village~Kanas Three Bays~Kanas Lake~Jiadengyu DAY4: Jiadengyu~Beach of Five Colors~Burqin DAY5: Burqin~Devil City~Kuitun DAY6: Kuitun~Sayram Lake~Qingshui River DAY7: Qingshui River~Qiongkushitai~Tekes Bagua City DAY8: Tekes~Hundred-Mile Gallery~Fairy Lake~Qiaojia Manalati Town DAY9: Narat~Narat Scenic Area~Duku Highway~Bayanbulak Nine Curves Eighteen Bends DAY10: Bayanbulak~Duku Highway~Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon~Korla DAY11: Korla~Flaming Mountains~Kumtag Desert~Bishan DAY12: Shanshan~Karez Wells~Turpan Grape Valley~Urumqi