“Climate tourism” is gaining momentum in China. In the popular tourist area of Turfan, located in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the northwest of the country, the temperature reached an incredible +80 °C. However, it is not about heating the air, but the surface of the famous mountain. However, tourists go there for thrills — such burning heat, they call “a wonderful experience.”
As reported by the Chinese publication Global Times, a heat wave has covered large areas of Northern China, but this does not stop tourists from visiting the region. Some even consider their perilous journeys in such scorching heat to be a special and exciting experience.
In the People’s Republic of China, as well as in Europe, data from meteorological stations record extremely high-temperature values. For example, last Sunday afternoon in the Chinese village of Sanbao in Turfan, the thermometer recorded a new historical record in this region – +52.2 °C. It is especially impressive that the surface of Mount Flame, also known as Huangshan, has heated up to +80 °C. It should be noted that the locals nicknamed the tourist spot “Land of Fire” – it is the hottest city in China and one of the driest places in the world.
“I have never felt such a high temperature in my life. It’s a great experience,” the publication quoted the traveler as saying. To relieve the unbearable heat, the staff of the tourist center delivers fruit ice cream and liquid oral medicine. In addition, coolers with water are installed on the streets of the region for the convenience of travelers. All this is done for the sake of a huge flow of tourists – their number is approximately 6,000 every day.
Turfan traditionally ranks first in the list of the hottest cities in the PRC in summer due to several factors that combine to create an extremely hot climate in this region:
- Geographical location. Turfan is located in the Qinghai-Gansu lowlands, where the surrounding mountains play the role of a natural “pit”, which creates special conditions for the retention and accumulation of heat. This leads to increased air temperature, which is exacerbated by the absence of cool winds that can bring relief to tourists and residents.
- Position above sea level. Turfan is located at an altitude of about 80 meters below sea level. This increases the effect of solar radiation, the humidity is much lower there, due to which there is a large amount of sunshine.
- Lack of a nearby source of water. The northern region of the PRC is one of the driest areas in the country. The lack of water means that there are no natural cooling sources in the form of water surfaces or the ocean to moderate the heat.
Local authorities predict that the temperature there and several other cities in Xinjiang will remain above +45 °C by the end of the week. In addition, the temperature in several places in neighboring Gansu province has also exceeded the critical +42 °C in recent days.
Background: Huangshan Mountain, also known as Yellow Mountain, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Famous for its beautiful scenery, colorful rocks, strange clouds, and numerous monasteries, the mountains are a popular destination for nature-loving tourists and pilgrims.