Flaming Mountains, the last guardian of ancient civilizations

Author: Yang Liqin, Huangshi, Han Lianyin (Photographer)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: The six valleys of Flaming Mountains all have ancient villages. These ancient villages are filled with many historical events, forming unique historical relics and folk culture of the Flaming Mountains. Time here is stretched out very, very long. The warm and simple Uyghur people live here, generation after generation, guarding their homes and upholding their unique culture. The local customs, residential architecture, social sentiments, and religion here reveal a "living fossil" of history and culture, which fascinates people, while the tranquility, serenity, and enduring vitality are even more breathtaking. Here is the "Flaming Mountains with green and red like fire," which the ancients described as "a sea of green smoke and a sea of red, the scorching flames have burned the sky." This is the lowest altitude in the country, Lake Ayding at -154 meters, second only to the world's lowest Dead Sea. Here is the ancient city of Gaochang, which lasted for 1,300 years and was destroyed by war. The former prosperity and nobility, the former dedication and recklessness, have all faded with the passage of time, leaving only the desolation of "the sky and earth roar, a lone horse rides the west wind." Here are the Beziklik Grottoes, which drove Western archaeologists to madness and extensive looting. Those exquisite murals once shocked the entire world. Today, we can only imagine the magnificence and splendor of this "well-decorated room" from the scattered and faded colors. The six valleys here all have ancient villages. The ancient villages are filled with many historical events, forming unique historical relics and folk culture of the Flaming Mountains. Time here is stretched out very, very long. The warm and simple Uyghur people live here, generation after generation, guarding their homes and upholding their unique culture. The local customs, residential architecture, social sentiments, and religion here reveal a "living fossil" of history and culture, which fascinates people, while the tranquility, serenity, and enduring vitality are even more breathtaking.