Summer - Peak tourist season of the "fire pan" Hoa Diem Son

Hoa Diem Son is a real place in life. (Photo: Internet)

Hoa Diem Son is a real-life place mentioned by the late writer Ngo Thua An in the classic work "Journey to the West".

In real life, this is a barren and eroded red sandstone hill in the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, China. The average elevation of the Fire Mountain is 500m. The climate in this area is very harsh. Summer temperatures are scorching, making it one of the hottest places in China.

Red sandstone bedrock at Huo Diem Son. This is one of the hottest places in China. (Photo: Internet)

This site is located near the northern edge of the Taklamakan Desert and east of the city of Turpan. In Journey to the West, the Flaming Mountains are said to have been formed from the pools of fire in the alchemy furnace that Sun Wukong destroyed during his rampage in Heaven. In reality, the impressive grooves on the Flaming Mountains were created by the erosion of the red sandstone bedrock, causing the mountain to appear to “burn” at certain times of the day.

Giant 12m high thermometer placed outdoors. (Photo: Internet)

At Hoa Diem Son, visitors will admire a thermometer up to 12 meters high, with recorded temperatures often above 60°C, sometimes up to 80°C. The high temperature makes the sand here very hot, visitors can even cook eggs right on the sand in just a few minutes. And this is also one of the most popular experiences.

Tourists experience grilling eggs outdoors. (Photo: Internet)

Additionally, visitors can try therapy by burying themselves in hot sand to promote blood circulation, aid in the treatment of rheumatism and improve sleep.

It is expected that the Hoa Diem Son area will welcome nearly 80,000 visitors during the peak season from June to August this year.