After discovering this unusual structure, a myriad of questions arose: Who could have constructed such a complex structure 150,000 years ago, a time when humans are believed to have just begun using fire?
The Baigong Pipes are one of the greatest mysteries of the ancient world. They were found inside a heavily eroded pyramid located on the peak of Baigong Mountain in Qinghai Province, Northwest China.
This collapsed pyramid once had three triangular entrances on its three sides, but over time, two of them have collapsed and are now inaccessible.
Traces of iron and unusually shaped stones protruding from the surface indicate that human activity occurred here a long time ago. The only remaining entrance features a complex network of metal pipes, with diameters reaching up to 0.45 meters. There are dozens of such pipes running straight up the mountain, yet where they lead remains a mystery.
On Baigong Mountain in Qinghai Province, Western China, there is a strange structure that locals believe is a launch tower. This structure resembles a pyramid, with three entrances shaped like triangles opening along its sides.
Some archaeologists who have visited this site have speculated that the pipes may have once supplied water to the pyramid. This hypothesis seems to be supported by numerous strange pipes found along the shore of the nearby Toson Lake. These pipes also vary in length and diameter, some rising above the water’s surface while others are buried beneath it.
Attracted by these lost artifacts, the Beijing Institute of Geology analyzed the Baigong Pipes using a technique called thermoluminescence. This method allows them to determine the last time the pipes were subjected to high temperatures. Analysis indicates that these pipes must have been manufactured 150,000 years ago.
Scattered around the “pyramid” and along the lake shore are numerous pipes, rusted iron debris, and unusually shaped stones, along with some conduits leading down to the lake.
And the mystery deepens. Analysis conducted at a metallurgical facility run by the Chinese government was unable to determine the exact composition of the pipes. Although the pipes are made up of iron oxide, silicon oxide, and calcium oxide, they also contain 8% unidentified material.
To this day, there is still no way to explain what that mysterious material is. According to previous studies, human presence in this area only began about 30,000 years ago, and primarily consisted of nomadic tribes.
Thus, the formation of a primitive society capable of constructing such sophisticated structures seems entirely implausible.
Consequently, many different hypotheses have been proposed to explain who might have built these pipes and for what purpose. One theory suggests that these are the remnants of an advanced civilization from the past that has been forgotten. They may have constructed some mysterious facility that required water for cooling, and the Baigong Pipes were responsible for transporting water from the nearby lake to meet this need.
“The large amounts of silicon dioxide and calcium oxide in the pipes are the result of long-term interactions between iron and sandstone. This proves that these pipes have been around for a very long time,” said engineer Liu Shaolin, who conducted the chemical analyses.
Interestingly, to the north of Baigong Mountain are two twin lakes, one containing freshwater and the other saline. However, there are no pipes around the freshwater lake; instead, all pipes are located along the southern shore of the saline lake, reaching heights of 50 to 60 meters. Why would this ancient civilization need salty water, or more specifically, brine?
The answer may very well be electrolysis. When an electric current passes through saltwater, it breaks down the structure of water into hydrogen and oxygen. These components are essential fuel sources for operating modern high-efficiency engines, especially aircraft, jet engines, etc. Thus, many believe that the true creators of these pipes could be a special civilization, one that may not have been human.
Remarkably, in this barren and harsh land, there has never been any presence of modern industry. Only a few nomadic people live to the north of Baigong Mountain. Therefore, locals believe that this strange structure might be a tower left by extraterrestrials.
This raises some intriguing and thought-provoking questions: “Before the known history of human civilization, did there exist a mysterious and unknown civilization with modern technology?”
For a time, there were many different speculations about the origin and purpose of these mysterious iron pipes. Some suggest that these iron pipes could be evidence of visits from extraterrestrial civilizations, who created these industrial structures using means far beyond the technology of Earth at that time.
However, this viewpoint has been met with skepticism by the scientific community. Scientists point out that the existence of extraterrestrials remains a mystery. Scientifically, if extraterrestrials do exist, they would not have been able to travel through interstellar space to reach Earth 150,000 years ago.
Yet, there is another hypothesis that may be easier for us to accept, which posits that the Baigong Pipes are actually just fossilized tree roots. Xinmin Weekly reported in 2003 that scientists found plant material during an analysis of the pipes and also discovered what looked like wood grain patterns inside some of the pipes.
This hypothesis is linked to a previous geological study suggesting that under certain temperatures and chemical conditions, tree roots can undergo a process of degradation (turning soil into stone) and other processes that may produce iron.
Regardless, these claims are grounded in their own basis and skepticism, and the mainstream scientific community has yet to reach a precise conclusion. However, no matter how one argues, it shows that the Baigong Pipes are a discovery of great value and significance, potentially revealing the secrets of prehistoric civilizations or hidden extraterrestrial civilizations on Earth, while also showcasing the wonders and complexities of geology.
The Baigong Iron Pipes are a strange and fascinating puzzle, challenging our understanding of Earth’s history and the development of civilization, while inspiring us to explore and imagine the unknown world. Is Earth’s civilization truly in a cycle? Will we ever find out? Perhaps only time will tell.
