The Flame Mountain depicted in the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West truly exists in real life. Recently, Chinese media reported that surface temperatures in the Flame Mountain area, also known as Kizilta, located in the Tian Shan mountain range of Xinjiang, have soared to a record high of 81 degrees Celsius. This area is currently considered the hottest in China.
The Flame Mountain in Journey to the West is real, reaching a record temperature of 81 degrees Celsius.
Kizilta gained fame through the story in the classic work Journey to the West, which recounts the tale of three monks tormented by the flames of the Fire Mountain, who were saved by Sun Wukong using the princess’s magical fan to extinguish the fire.
In this classic, the author Wu Cheng’en describes the Flame Mountain as having flames blazing for eight hundred miles, devoid of vegetation, and anyone who passes through is burned.
The Flame Mountain, part of the Tian Shan range in Xinjiang, China, lies on the northern edge of the Taklamakan Desert and to the east of the city of Turpan, along the ancient Silk Road. The mountain stretches about 100 kilometers long and is 5 to 10 kilometers wide, starting from the flow of the Liu Sha River, with an average height of 500 meters, and peaks reaching 800 meters.
Intense sunlight at Kiziltag. (Photo: Xinhua News).
The climate here is harsh, with year-round heat, as temperatures frequently reach 50 degrees Celsius, and can soar to 70-80 degrees Celsius in the summer. Locals refer to this area as Kiziltag, meaning “Red Mountain”, due to the red sandstone that is barren and eroded. Under the scorching sun, the sandstone reflects light, making it appear as if the mountain is on fire.
According to China Central Television (CCTV), on June 26, the surface temperature reached 81 degrees Celsius, marking the highest level this year.
“Without wind and cloudy skies, the temperature in the area will rise significantly,” stated a staff member at the Red Mountain scenic area, adding that “high temperatures typically only occur in August, but this year they have arrived very early in June.”
The thermometer at Yeouido at Mt. Flame surged to 81 degrees. (Photo: Baidu in China).
Here, a giant thermometer resembling Yeouido has been installed to display the surface temperature in real-time. This area attracts a large number of tourists every summer to experience the “blazing flames.”
This year, China is facing an early heatwave in the northern regions due to the intensifying effects of global warming.
On June 12, surface temperatures in central and southern Hebei, Shandong, Henan, southern Shaanxi, and northern Anhui exceeded 60 degrees Celsius, with some areas even surpassing 70 degrees Celsius.
“Northern China will experience widespread and prolonged high temperatures in the coming period,” predicted the China Meteorological Administration, noting that heatwaves will continue in Xinjiang, Shaanxi province, and the North China Plain. Meanwhile, southern China is experiencing severe damage due to flooding.
