Fiery Mountain in Wuhuatan

Fiery Mountain in Wuhuatan

The Junggar Basin, China's second-largest basin, is known as a "prehistoric geological museum." It boasts beautiful colorful cities, large areas of petrified wood, and dinosaur fossils. Located about 250 kilometers from Urumqi, Fiery Mountain in the southeastern part of the Junggar Basin is one of its scenic highlights. Unlike the Flaming Mountains, which are famous for their high temperatures, Fiery Mountain is renowned for the color of its mountain body.

Fiery Mountain is located within the territory of Jimusar County, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, at the K443 mark on National Highway 216. It belongs to the Wuhuatan Scenic Area of the Kalamaili Mountain Nature Reserve and is highly visible along National Highway 216 between Urumqi and Altay. Covering an area of 10 square kilometers, it lies to the west of the Huoeshan operation area of the Zhundong Oilfield and to the east of the Wuhuatan Coal Mine.

Different from the Flaming Mountains in Turpan, which are famed for their high temperatures, Fiery Mountain is known for the color of its mountain body. The Colorful City is also famous for its mountain hues. The difference between Fiery Mountain and the Colorful City is that here, the undulating hills are not multicolored but entirely composed of a vast expanse of sintered rock in burnt sienna. Looking around, almost no other colors can be seen. At dawn and dusk, under the glow of the morning or evening sun, it seems as if it is still ablaze—a magnificent and rare sight—thus earning its name. It is a scenic spot along National Highway 216.

The most distinctive feature of Fiery Mountain[1] is that its numerous gently rolling hills are made up of brick-red and orange-yellow rocks. These rocks are brightly colored, hard in texture, and produce a clear, crisp sound when struck. The entire hilly area glows red under the sunlight, shining brilliantly and creating a spectacular sight. Standing here, one can imagine the awe-inspiring scene of a sea of fire tens of thousands of years ago. From a high vantage point, mist shrouds the valleys, and the sunlight-burnished colorful hills appear even more delicate and translucent, like open colorful umbrellas. Especially during the early, mid, and late parts of the day, it displays distinct beauty, offering varied and fascinating impressions to all who see it.

The rocks of Fiery Mountain were not originally red. They were baked red due to spontaneous combustion of the underlying coal seam, hence also called baked metamorphic rock. The original rock was mostly mudstone, and after baking, it became almost identical to brick or stone, only denser and harder in texture. Because the nearby oilfield was named the Huoeshan Oilfield, it gained widespread fame and became better known to people. Fiery Mountain is located in a desert zone, composed of Jurassic strata, with all rocks exposed and almost no vegetation. It is a relatively typical tourist destination featuring Yardang landform landscapes.