Mazhatag Mountain

Mazhatag Mountain

Mazhatag Mountain is a cultural tourism attraction.

Mazhatag Mountain

Mazhatag Mountain (also known as Hongbai Mountain) is located on the western bank of the lower reaches of the Hotan River within the territory of Moyu County. It lies east-west across the southern part of the Taklamakan Desert and is intercepted by the Hotan River. The mountain is elongated in shape, stretching from east to west. Its eastern side faces the green corridor of the Hotan River alluvial plain, while its western side is surrounded by desert, situated in an extremely arid desert region. It is a cuesta formed by neotectonic movements and holds significant importance for studying the paleoenvironmental evolution of the Tarim Basin, as well as serving as valuable material for researching the impact of human activities on the environment during historical periods. The white mountain is composed of red mudstone, gypsum, and limestone from the Lower Tertiary, while the red mountain consists of brownish-red sandstone and mudstone from the Upper Tertiary. The two mountains together resemble a dragon lying down to drink water. The mountain extends toward the Hotan River before sinking underground, with its peak rising prominently by the riverside. It has an average slope of 30°, with elevations ranging from 1,300 to 1,570 meters, and the main peak reaches 1,570 meters, higher in the west and lower in the east. The mountain has been subjected to dry erosion and wind erosion, exposing bedrock and featuring abundant colluvial and residual deposits.

Mazhatag and the north-south flowing Hotan River complement each other, creating a formidable and uniquely distinctive desert landscape. On the Red Mountain Peak stands an ancient garrison fortress, backed by the Red Mountain massif and facing the expansive bed of the Hotan River, with the White Mountain Peak to the north, beneath which lies a massive echo wall. The ancient garrison fortress is a site of ancient fortress ruins, divided into three layers. The first layer is composite, consisting of a main wall and parapet—or inner and outer walls—with walls filled with materials such as tamarisk branches and reeds, with interlayers 40 centimeters thick. The second layer was expanded on the foundation of the first, built from adobe and raw mud blocks. The third layer is also made of adobe and consists of auxiliary structures. The adobe blocks of the three walls vary in size, measuring 37×20×9, 38×20×9, and 30×20×8 centimeters respectively, indicating that the three layers of the fortress were built in different periods. The upper parts of the fortress structures have now completely collapsed, leaving only the walls. The plan of the fortress consists of two rectangles, covering a total area of approximately 1,100 square meters. Not far to the west of the fortress, there is a circular beacon tower, complementing the fortress visually. The ancient garrison fortress ruins are located at the highest point and offer a commanding view of the surrounding landscape. In ancient times, this place was a necessary passage from Kucha to Khotan. The fortress was initially built during the Eastern Han Dynasty and continued to be used through the Tang and Song Dynasties. It served as a key transportation hub connecting the north, south, east, and west during the Han and Tang periods. Ancient documents and other relics have been unearthed at the site, making it one of the historically important ancient cities in Hotan. It may have declined during the religious wars of the 11th and 12th centuries. Over the past century, many domestic and international archaeologists and explorers have visited the site, making it famous both in China and abroad.

Mazhatag is currently in a state of natural preservation, with the ancient garrison fortress on the mountaintop managed by the Moyu County Cultural Relics Office. In recent years, due to the surge in interest in Silk Road studies, the site frequently attracts domestic and international tourists interested in adventure, archaeology, and experiencing the scenes of ancient camel caravans and horse carriages. The southern peaks, due to their steep terrain and rugged paths, are generally difficult for ordinary tourists to access and are mainly developed for use by mountaineering enthusiasts.