Wucaiwan Scenic Area

Wucaiwan Scenic Area

Wucaiwan Scenic Area -- Located over 100 kilometers north of Jimusaer County in the Gurbantünggüt Desert, it is now home to the second-largest oilfield in the Junggar Basin after Karamay, with asphalt roads and gravel roads leading directly from the county town.

1. Wucai City: As early as the Jurassic period hundreds of millions of years ago, thick layers of coal were deposited here. Over time, wind erosion and rain wore away the surface sand and stones of the coal seams. Lightning strikes and subsequent fires burned the coal seams completely, leaving behind sintered rock formations. Coupled with varying mineral contents from different geological periods, the rolling hills in this area display a palette dominated by ochre-red, interspersed with yellow, white, black, green, and other colors. Further shaped by wind, sun, and rain, they formed what is known as "yardang landforms." Viewed from afar or up close, these formations resemble ancient city walls and fortresses, hence the name.

2. Huoshao Mountain: The difference between Huoshao Mountain and Wucai City lies in the fact that the undulating hills here are not colorful but entirely composed of sintered rock in a uniform ochre-red hue. Looking around, almost no other colors can be seen. At dawn and dusk, under the glow of sunrise or sunset, the mountains appear as if still ablaze with fire — a magnificent and rare sight, which gives the area its name.

3. Fossil Valley: The Junggar Basin was once an ocean, with dense primeval forests along its shores. Later, due to several tectonic shifts, vast forests and other flora and fauna were buried deep underground, later turning into fossils that resurfaced. In this fossil valley, there are spectacular stands of petrified wood, various tree seed fossils, fruit fossils, and numerous animal fossils.

4. Oil Base: Wucaiwan has proven oil reserves of 50 million tons, and more than a hundred oil wells have been drilled so far. A new “oil city” is emerging. Amid the bizarre and colorful landscapes, visitors can also witness the bustling activity of an oil base — a sight rarely seen elsewhere. Gurbantünggüt Desert Landscape: Covering a total area of 48,000 square kilometers, the Gurbantünggüt Desert is the second-largest desert in China. Most of its dunes are fixed or semi-fixed. Even tens of kilometers deep into the desert, large areas of tamarisk, saxaul, reeds, and other green vegetation can still be found. In spring and summer, the landscape is dotted with green grass and blooming flowers, herds of cattle and sheep, presenting a uniquely spectacular scene seldom seen elsewhere.