Flame Mountain Scenic Area is located 30 kilometers east of Gaochang District, Turfan City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, adjacent to the exit of Erbao Township on the Lianhuo Expressway. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. Flame Mountain is the hottest place in China, with the highest summer temperature reaching 47.8°C, and the highest surface temperature exceeding 70°C, where eggs can be baked in the sand. The mountain stretches over 100 kilometers, with the widest part reaching 10 kilometers, at an altitude of about 500 meters, and the main peak at 831.7 meters. The scenic area is dominated by fiery red reddish-brown sandstone landforms, presenting a unique Danxia landform landscape of arid regions in the Flame Mountain style. With the theme of "Panoramic Dream Journey to the West," it combines modern VR technology to recreate the imposing manner of raging flames, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the hardships of the Journey to the West.
History and Culture
Flame Mountain was anciently known as Chishishan (Red Stone Mountain), and in Uyghur it is called "Kizil Tag," meaning Red Mountain. Its basic geomorphological pattern was formed 141 million years ago. In the mythological novel Journey to the West by Wu Chengen of the Ming Dynasty, the story of "Tang Sanzang blocked by Flame Mountain, Sun Wukong borrowing the Plantain Fan three times" has added a layer of mystery to Flame Mountain. Closely associated with characters such as Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong, Princess Iron Fan, and the Bull Demon King, Flame Mountain has become a legendary mountain worldwide. In addition, there are some scenic spots related to legends, such as the horse-tethering stake where Tang Sanzang passed by and the huge stone known as the Bajie Stone, which add rich cultural connotations to the scenic area.
Main Attractions
Journey to the West Cultural Corridor
Themed around Journey to the West, this corridor displays stories and culture related to Flame Mountain through various sculptures, murals, etc., vividly reproducing the experiences of Tang Sanzang and his disciples in Flame Mountain, making visitors feel as if they are in a mythical world.
Flame Mountain Geography and Culture Hall
This hall showcases knowledge about the geographical formation, climatic characteristics, and ecological environment of Flame Mountain through various forms such as pictures, texts, objects, and multimedia, providing visitors with a comprehensive introduction to the uniqueness of Flame Mountain for a deeper understanding.
Flame Mountain Zero Altitude Line
A stone tablet inscribed with "Flame Mountain Zero Altitude Line." This mark is symbolic because the average altitude of Flame Mountain itself is about 500 meters, with the main peak at 831.7 meters, while the lowest point of the Turpan Basin, Aydingkol Lake, has a surface altitude of -154.31 meters.
Flame Mountain Scenic Wonders
Visitors can admire the unique red mountain body of Flame Mountain, which seems to be burning under the sunlight, presenting a spectacular flame-like scene. In addition, some strange rock formations can be seen, such as the stepping stone where Tang Sanzang mounted his horse, echoing the stories in Journey to the West.
Food
Roasted Lamb Skewers
Made from fresh lamb marinated specially and roasted over charcoal fire. The meat is tender, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sprinkled with seasonings like cumin and chili powder, with a pungent aroma, being a highly characteristic local delicacy.
Big Plate Chicken
Chicken is cut into pieces and stewed with potatoes, green peppers, belt noodles, etc. The chicken is tender and flavorful, the potatoes are soft, and the belt noodles absorb the flavor of the chicken and soup, with a chewy texture and rich taste.
Nang (Uyghur Bread)
A traditional Xinjiang pasta with various flavors and shapes. Usually baked in a nang pit, it has a crispy outer skin and a soft interior, with a rich wheat aroma. It can be eaten directly or paired with other dishes.
Grapes
Turfan is famous for its grapes, and various grapes are sold around Flame Mountain. The grapes here come in diverse varieties, such as seedless white grapes, which have thin skins, tender flesh, extremely high sweetness, and a delicious taste.
Tickets
The ticket price is 40 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "火焰山景区" to get the latest updates. As of May 30, 2025, the official public account does not provide an online ticketing function.
Opening Hours
It is open from 09:00 to 20:00 in winter and from 08:30 to 20:30 in summer.
Tour Route
Visitors can first visit the Flame Mountain Geography and Culture Hall in the underground landscape to learn about Flame Mountain; then come to the ground landscape to tour the Journey to the West Cultural Corridor and feel the charm of Journey to the West culture; then go to the Flame Mountain Scenic Wonders to admire the unique mountain scenery and strange rock formations; finally, visit the zero altitude point to understand special geographical knowledge. The entire tour takes about 1-2 hours. If time permits, you can stay longer in the scenic area to deeply experience its characteristics.
Transportation
- Bus: Take buses No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, etc., in Turfan urban area to reach Flame Mountain Scenic Area.
- Tourist Bus: Take a tourist bus in Turfan urban area to directly reach Flame Mountain Scenic Area.
- Taxi: Take a taxi in Turfan urban area to go directly to Flame Mountain Scenic Area.
- Self-driving: Start from Turfan urban area and drive about 10 kilometers north along National Highway 312 to reach Flame Mountain.
Must-visit Attractions
- Flame Mountain Scenic Wonders: The unique red mountain body burns like flames under the sunlight, spectacular and strange, with rock formations related to Journey to the West, full of fun and cultural connotations.
- Journey to the West Cultural Corridor: Themed around Journey to the West, it displays Journey to the West stories through rich sculptures and murals, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in Journey to the West culture.
- Flame Mountain Geography and Culture Hall: A good place to comprehensively understand the geography, climate, ecology, etc., of Flame Mountain and gain knowledge.
Tour Tips
- The temperature is extremely high in summer. When visiting, pay attention to sun protection, carry sun hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, scarves, etc., and bring more drinking water to prevent heatstroke.
- You can choose to visit in the morning or evening to avoid the high temperature at noon. Try to avoid staying outdoors for a long time from 2 pm to 4 pm when the temperature is high.
- If you are interested in Journey to the West culture, you can stay longer in the Journey to the West Cultural Corridor to carefully appreciate various sculptures and murals.
- There are some interactive experience projects in the scenic area, such as camel riding, which you can participate in according to your interests to increase the fun of the tour.
Notes
- Abide by the scenic area regulations and do not touch or damage facilities such as sculptures and murals in the scenic area at will.
- Respect local religious beliefs and customs. The main residents in the scenic area are Uyghurs, so pay attention to avoiding conflicts due to cultural differences.
- Due to the high temperature, do not run or exercise vigorously in the scenic area for a long time to avoid physical discomfort.
- Take good care of personal belongings, especially in crowded places, and pay attention to preventing theft.