The Kizil Township Red Stone Forest Scenic Area in Baicheng County, Aksu, Xinjiang: The Fiery Spring

Forget the saying that water and fire are incompatible. In Xinjiang, tossing a flame into a spring can create a romantic scene in the wilderness. On the vast expanse east of Baicheng County, Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang, at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, lies a vast Yardang landform—the Kizil Township Red Stone Forest Scenic Area. This hidden gem is famous for its "Fiery Spring." There are two Fiery Springs here, one dry and one wet. They ignite when exposed to fire, yet the flames don't extinguish the water, creating a unique spectacle of "water and fire blending." The Fiery Spring is a natural phenomenon where underground natural gas, due to crustal movement and geological structure, rises through cracks and pores to the surface and reacts with oxygen in the air, producing flames. The blazing fire and spring water intertwine; water cannot extinguish the fire, and fire cannot dry up the water. It's a truly magnificent sight. The land surrounding the Fiery Spring exhibits unique textures and colors due to the saline-alkali influence of the Yardang landform. If you happen to be passing through Baicheng, be sure to visit between 8 and 9 pm. Gather around the Fiery Spring, look up at the stone forest bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun, and experience a romantic and magnificent scene.