Explore Xinjiang's Devil City and listen to the wailing cries of remorse

Xinjiang’s “Devil City,” where nature’s awe-inspiring craftsmanship is astounding. (Photo provided by Da Zhi Images / Shutterstock)

“The fierce wind gave it the name Devil City and also shaped it into a devilish form.” The eerie howling sound when the wind blows is bone-chilling. Located in the Urho mining area of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, its unique wind-eroded landforms make it take on a thousand different shapes. From afar, the various strange sandstone formations resemble a castle standing in the vast Gobi Desert. This castle-like formation resembles various famous historical sites, and the spectacular natural scenery is breathtaking. But venturing deeper, the deathly silence and the sounds of the wind will send shivers down your spine.

Originally, Devil City was actually a vast lake rich in ecology. After two major geological shifts, it became the wind-eroded terrain it is today. The powerful northwest wind has turned the Urho mining area into a “miniature world.” The forms of hills resembling ancient sites from around the globe—such as Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, Egypt’s pyramids, Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, and the Roman Colosseum—create a magnificent and spectacular landscape. Nature’s extraordinary craftsmanship is astonishing, and the unique terrain has attracted many film crews. One of the filming locations for the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is right here.

Devil City is one of the filming locations for Ang Lee’s *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon*. The colors of the setting sun at dusk are incredibly beautiful. (Stock photo)

Though majestic and grand from afar, once you step into its domain, the bizarre and towering earthen mounds, cracked yellow earth, and the sharp, ghostly wails that come with the wind—even in broad daylight—can make you feel trembling and fearful. The name “Devil City” is well deserved.

And there is such a legend about Devil City. It is said that this place was originally a castle where the inhabitants were kind and hardworking, living a life of plenty. But as wealth accumulated, people began to indulge in pleasure and filled with violence. So, the Heavenly God transformed into a beggar to tell the people that it was evil that had turned him from a rich man into a beggar, hoping to awaken their conscience. But the method did not work—the mockery of the beggar by the townspeople enraged the Heavenly God, who then turned the castle into ruins and buried the people beneath them. Since then, the cries of wandering souls have been heard endlessly, and the howling wind is their cry of remorse. This magical legend adds an even greater sense of mystery to Devil City.