Mud Volcano

Mud Volcano

The Dushanzi Mud Volcano is located about 1 kilometer southwest of Dushanzi urban area, on the northern side of the main peak of Dushanzi Mountain. There is a hill covered in loess, known as the “Mud Volcano,” which formed 700,000 years ago. It has an elevation of 958.3 meters and a relative height of about 200 meters. The “Mud Volcano” is a natural phenomenon in geology and also a rare natural landscape in the world. It is formed by underground natural gas being forced under pressure to spurt out from fissures in the earth’s crust, carrying water, mud, sand, and rock debris, which accumulate over time to form a mud mound.

Currently, the original eruption vents that formed the mountain remain well-preserved. Since 2000, the “Mud Volcano” has shown intermittent signs of activity again. At the summit, there are multiple vents from which thick grayish-green mud oozes out. Bubbles continuously rise and burst within the mud, emitting an oily smell. The flowing mud also has unique skincare benefits. The Dushanzi Mud Volcano mainly has two mud-spewing vents, approximately 100 meters apart. The larger vent has a diameter of about 60 centimeters and rises about 1 meter above the ground. The interior of the vent contains viscous, grayish-green mud with a slight oil odor, continuously bubbling out mud globules. The accumulated mud flows out through an opening on the southwestern side. The emerging mud forms a conical mound on the surface, with a base diameter of over 10 meters and a surface made up of cracked, dried mud blocks.

On the mud volcano, you can also admire unique geological and geomorphological landscapes such as the colorful Rainbow Slope, the colorful Bow-shaped Anticline, and the Mandarin Duck Pillars, as well as tourist attractions and historical sites such as the first oil well and the first distillation still.

Address: 1 kilometer southwest of Dushanzi urban area

Admission: Free

Opening Hours: All day