White Dragon Pile Yardang

White Dragon Pile Yardang

The White Dragon Pile Yardang is one of the three major yardang groups in the Lop Nur region and is also one of the most renowned landscapes of Lop Nur. The middle route of the ancient Silk Road into Lop Nur passed through the White Dragon Pile, and merchants continued to travel this path until the Tang Dynasty. Although frequently mentioned in historical texts, the White Dragon Pile was often depicted as an extremely treacherous area, believed to be haunted by demons. In reality, the White Dragon Pile remains a dangerous no-man’s-land to this day. It is located in the northeastern part of Lop Nur and consists of a cluster of saline-alkali earth platforms. The harsh climate and environment make it extremely hostile. Travelers passing through this area usually have already consumed most of their supplies. If caught in several days of sandstorms, they can become trapped and may die of starvation or thirst. Therefore, from June to August each year, it is generally avoided by people. The White Dragon Pile is the hardest of all the yardang landforms in Xinjiang to reach. To date, only a small number of people have actually seen its true appearance, which adds to its mysterious allure.

The White Dragon Pile is a gravelly earthen mound landform formed by the uplift of Quaternary lacustrine deposits. Due to water erosion and wind erosion, it has developed into a long strip of earthen mounds running from northeast to southwest, stretching nearly 100 kilometers and lying across the northeastern part of the Lop Nur region. The White Dragon Pile Yardang stretches from north to southwest, aligning in a line that extends beyond the naked eye’s reach. Its shape indeed resembles dragons—some with heads held high, some lying prone on the path, and others with heads slightly raised, as if ready to take flight at any moment. Climbing onto the “dragon’s body,” one can observe that each “dragon” is covered with a layer of white saline-alkali soil, some with thick layers of crystalline salt, while others are formed entirely of white clay. Under the morning sunlight, these long dragons reflect a brilliant silver light, even appearing to crawl and writhe. Hence, the name “White Dragon Pile” is truly fitting. This unique area has now been designated as a “National Geopark” by the Ministry of Land and Resources.

Two renowned European archaeologists, Aurel Stein and Sven Hedin, successively explored Lop Nur before traveling eastward along the long-lost Loulan Road toward Hami. When the majestic White Dragon Pile revealed its grand form under the setting sun, the two archaeologists, one after the other, were left stunned. Words like “miraculous,” “ingenious,” “divinely created,” and “nature’s masterpiece” all fall short of describing the wonder before their eyes. What could this be? Towering and undulating earthen hills, carved by millions of years of wind erosion, have taken on bizarre shapes—some resembling lions or monkeys, others like castles or mushrooms. Stepping into this landscape, one can only marvel at nature’s creations. The occasional shepherds who wander here refer to it in Uyghur as “Yardang,” meaning “small hills with steep cliffs.” The Kazakhs call it “Sheitan Kershi,” meaning “a place where demons appear.” This long stretch of the White Dragon Pile is like a natural gallery of stone carvings, with countless fascinating forms that dazzle the eye. There is also an interesting story associated with the White Dragon Pile.

Legend has it that after Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang reached the Hami Oasis via the Moheyanqi Desert, he spent some time teaching Mahayana Buddhism at the famous Baiyanggou Grand Buddha Temple in the area. He was then summoned by envoys sent by the King of Gaochang, Qu Wentai. Instead of taking the Yiwu Route back, they decided to take a shortcut through the Dahuang Road to return to Turpan. However, upon entering the Lop Nur region within Ruoqiang County, they were hit by a sandstorm. A fierce wind darkened the sky and charged toward them. At this critical moment, Xuanzang’s white dragon horse transformed into a white dragon, shielding Xuanzang and the envoy. By the time the sandstorm passed, the white dragon horse had turned into the towering White Dragon Pile. Grateful for the horse’s protection, Xuanzang named the place “White Dragon Pile.” The group then returned via the Yiwu Route and eventually reached Turpan safely by traveling along the eastern Tianshan Mountains.

On the vast land of Lop Nur at 90°19’09” east longitude and 40°33’90” north latitude stands a stone monument engraved with a person’s name. He is a legendary figure, honored as one of China’s top ten contemporary explorers—Yu Chunshun. Travelers entering the Lop Nur region can hardly avoid hearing his name. One summer ten years ago, this explorer decided to challenge himself by attempting a solo summer trek across the dried-up Lop Nur, aiming to break the myth that June was an impossible time to enter or cross the region. However, he did not succeed and met the same fate as Peng Jiamu. On the second day of entering Lop Nur, he became lost, suffered from extreme heat, and ran out of supplies, leading to acute dehydration, exhaustion, and eventual death from coma. Yu Chunshun had completed only one-third of his ambitious plan before collapsing. It is truly a poignant reminder of how small and powerless humans are in the face of nature’s overwhelming force. Today, the site of Yu Chunshun’s death has become a famous tourist attraction in Lop Nur. Every visitor to the region pays homage to the memory of Yu Chunshun.

The dietary habits of the Lop Nur people are similar to those of the rest of Xinjiang, featuring rice and steamed buns, as well as meat and vegetable dishes available year-round. The Lop Nur people use a magical plant called Apocynum, harvesting its flowers and leaves to make tea. Many ailments are said to be cured spontaneously by this practice, a tradition that has lasted for over three thousand years—a unique dietary custom. In October 2005, in the “China’s Most Beautiful Special Edition” released by Chinese National Geography magazine, the White Dragon Pile was ranked as one of China’s top three most beautiful yardang landforms, coming in second place.