Discover China: Classic literature boosts tourism in Xinjiang

          Source: Xinhua| 2019-09-27 18:30:27|Editor: xuxin
          Video PlayerClose

          URUMQI, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- As noon draws near, the mercury in a 12-meter-high thermometer rises, reaching 40 degrees Celcius at the Flaming Mountain scenic area.

          In the shape of the legendary Monkey King's golden cudgel, it once read 89 degrees Celcius in the summer of 2017, just 11 degrees shy of hitting the thermometer's limit.

          The mountain is a famous place cited in the well-recognized Chinese classic literature "Xiyouji," or "Journey to the West," depicting a pilgrim on a journey to retrieve the Buddhist sutras from India. It is located in Turpan, known as a land of fire in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

          The Flaming Mountain looks like it's "burning" because of its red sandstones, though it doesn't have real flames as depicted in the literary works and its adapted films.

          The intense heat at the site could not hold fans of "Xiyouji" back from visiting the mountain that they first learned about from this classic novel.

          Wang Jianping, general manager of the scenic area, said the mountain has received 860,000 visitors so far this year, close to the total number of visitors recorded last year.

          "I read the novel as a child, and have watched the 'Xiyouji' TV series several times," said Wang Chunying, a girl who came from the eastern province of Shandong. She loves the story of the Monkey King, who used a palm-leaf fan to put out the flames on the very mountain.

          The masterwork has been translated into many languages and published around the world since the 19th century. A TV series was produced in 1986, which has been aired more than 3,000 times in China.

          At the site, visitors take pictures with bronze statues of major characters from the novel, while having cold drinks and ice cream to relieve the summer heat.

          Excavated historical documents record the substantial Buddhist presence in Turpan through the numerous Buddhist temples.

          Buddhist relics including the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves are scattered all around the scenic area, which has set up a special exhibition hall showcasing artistic fresco copies in the caves.

          "I came because of 'Xiyouji,' but was surprised to learn about the long and rich Buddhist culture here in Xinjiang," said Dai Xiao, a visitor from central China's Hubei Province.

          TOP STORIES
          EDITOR’S CHOICE
          MOST VIEWED
          EXPLORE XINHUANET
          010020070750000000000000011100001384285821
          无码人妻一区二区三区四区av_亚洲精品911在线永久观看_精品一区二区国产在线观看_日韩不卡一区二区视频在线

                  中文字幕精品视频在线观 | 中文字幕色婷婷在线精品中 | 一级激情AV在线播放 | 亚洲欧美国产精品综合一区 | 亚洲欧美日韩国产综合网 | 日本最新免费二区三区在线观看 |