Flaming Mountains

Introduction

Flaming Mountains are red sandstone hills on the northern edge of the Turpan Basin. The red of the hills has been likened to burning flames and temperatures often reach a sweltering 55°C (131°F).

The mountains were made famous in the 16th century Chinese classic novel ‘Journey to the West’ which describes Buddhist monk Xuan Zang’s pilgrimage to India. In the novel the monk encounters a wall of flames, an apt description for these mountains, but is able to extinguish them with help from his companion the Monkey King.