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.
