Why is the Dunhuang Yaodang Geological Park Called 'Hell City'? Do You Know It?
Dune Yaodang Geological Park is located to the northwest of Dunhuang, belonging to the Dunhuang West Line, generally together with Yumenguan and Yangguan. It is about 170 kilometers away from Dunhuang City.
Yaodang Landform (Image source: network)
Yaodang landform is a unique landform formed by wind erosion. 'Yaodang' means 'small hill' in the Uyghur language. The name of Yaodang landform was coined by Swedish explorer Sven Hedin when he surveyed the Lop Nur area in Xinjiang, China, and he called the landforms around the ancient lake 'Yaodang'. After that, 'Yaodang' was used worldwide to name this landform.
Yaodang Geological Park (Image source: network)
Dunhuang's Yaodang Geological Park has a very large area of 346.34 square kilometers. Before entering the scenic area, you can first visit the Geological Museum to understand how Yaodang landform is formed, so you will understand the situation better when you enter the scenic area to see Yaodang landform.
Golden Lion Reception
Pyramid
Peacock Opening
Each bus travels roughly the same points, such as the majestic Golden Lion, the Egyptian Sphinx, overlooking the distant Peacock Opening and the Wind and Waves Fleet.
Wind and Waves Fleet
It is said that the name was given by the leader of the military commission. The general said that there are the North Sea, East Sea and South Sea fleets in our navy, but there is no West Sea Fleet. So this area is called 'Wind and Waves Fleet'.
Many people know that Yaodang Geological Park also has another name called 'Hell City'. Why is it called 'Hell City'? Maybe you can truly feel it only by stepping into this land.
The wind here is very strong all year round, especially starting in the evening, and the wind becomes more icy and fierce. The protruding land is blown by the sharp wind, accompanied by sand and dust, and makes a terrifying sound.
Moreover, if you bring a compass, you will find that your compass will lose its function here because this land has magnetic stone, and it is easy to get lost because there are many small soil piles here.
There is also the color of the sand, which is black, so it is very heat-absorbing. In summer, walking here feels dizzy. I went to the hottest 7th and 8th of July, when I arrived at Peacock Opening, I felt like I was going to heatstroke. If not for my companions to support me back to the bus stop for rest, I really would have fainted here.
Therefore, the 'Hell City' title of Yaodang Geological Park is indeed well-deserved.
Although it is hot and desolate, seeing the encounter between the wind and the Gobi over millions of years and forming such a wonder is also inspiring.
When you stand on this land, you may involuntarily ask yourself: What did this scenery experience to create this scene?
The landform here is a testament to the saying 'Cambaloca' (meaning 'sea turned into land'). Because tens of thousands of years ago, this was the Lop Nur area, if you see 'Nur' (meaning 'lake'), you should know that there was water here, indeed, there used to be a lake here, later the movement of the crust dried up the lake, the mud at the bottom was exposed and eroded by the wind for a long time, which turned into the scene we see today.
However, due to the erosion of the wind, the final outcome of this place is to disappear, these various shapes of soil piles will eventually be blown away by the wind. So if you have the opportunity, you should go to Northwest China to see such rough beauty, which can only be felt by being there.
However, the best time to admire Yaodang Geological Park is at sunset, golden sunshine shines on the golden soil hills, as if entering an oil painting world.
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