The hottest place of China: Xinjiang Tulufan Mt. Huoyan - Photo Album

Huoyan Shan (Flaming Mountains) is a strip of about 100 kilometer long by 10 kilometer wide by 500 meter high red sandstone hills that runs east and west across the center of the Tulufan Depression (Tarim Basin). Eons ago, collisions among landmasses created the Tarim Basin and eventually further motions caused a distortion along a fault line that ran across its middle. This distortion is the Flaming Mountains. In ancient times it had been called (Red Rocky Mountains), and the local Uygurs (Uyghurs) called it , which means the Red Mountains. Because of its numerous deep gullies running down its slopes, and combine with its red color and the rising hot air of the desert, so from a distance and at certain combination of the factors it has the phenomenal appearance of a huge wall of fire. The mountains are a tiny part of the eastern tail end of theTian Shan (Heavenly Mountains) range on the northern rim of the Taklamakan Desert; but unlike much of the large snow-capped peaks, these hot red hills are eroded and barren and within its immediate areas, nothing grows.

The Mt. Huoyan Nature Reserve has an interesting geological history. Its geological structure was formed by dramatic tectonic movements and consists mainly of conglomerate and sandstone layers with very weak cohesion. Natural forces such as wind and rain have eroded these mountains, causing large sections to break off, creating jagged peaks and rock strewn slopes and valleys. The best view of the mountains is from the south; they are especially magnificent at sunset, when they appear to be on fire. It is from this that they derive their name, Mt. Huoyan, which means "fire mountain". Every March and April, Mt.Huoyan serves as a stopover for migratory birds coming from the south. The gray-headedvulture, on its way back to the north from its winter retreat in the Philippines, is a frequent visitor, attracted by the mild climate of Mt. Huoyan.[Close]