Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has been burning up recently. The temperature of the land surface around the Flaming Mountains in Turpan Basin reached up to 70℃ on Monday. And the boiling hot weather has also enveloped other areas of the region, including lli, Karamay, Urumqi and Changji.

According to the Turpan Meteorological Administration, at 1:30pm on Monday, the temperature of the air outside the famous Bezkrik Thousand-Buddha Grottoes, located in the Flaming Mountains southeast of Turpan City, was up to 55℃, while the temperature at the summit in urban Turpan City was above 43℃.

Manager of the Turpan Flaming Mountains Tourism Company, Mr. Zhang Bensheng said on Monday that "At about 3:00pm, the world's biggest mercury pole 'Golden Bar', situated at the foot of Flaming Mountains, read 70℃ in sun, compared with its top record temperature of 81.2℃."

180 kilometers from Urumqi, Turpan Basin is set at the lowest altitude of all land in China. It has been endowed with the nickname "Continent of Fire" since Turpan's urban area once hit a sweltering 47.6℃ according to historical records.

(CRIENGLISH.com August 2, 2006)