There’s A Reason It’s Called ‘Flame Mountain’

Created: 2012-08-20 16:13 EST

Category: China

Embed:

There’s a reason why it’s called Flame Mountain. According to the massive thermometer, it’s an unbelievable 56 degrees Celsius here in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, that’s 132 degrees for you Fahrenheit people. And so while the local meteorological observatory is warning people to stay out of the sun and watch for heatstroke and sunburn, there are a brave few who are actually going out and enjoying the unbelievable temperatures.

[Jennifer, Canadian tourist]:

"My eyes are feeling a bit like raisins. It's drying me out a lot."

[Ms. Hong, Chinese tourist]:

"I want to feel on the hottest possible day how it would be like when people say the mountain was once hot like flames."

As crazy as it may sound, these people are practicing what’s called hot therapy, which touts being effective at relieving arthritis and rheumatism.

[Mr. Du, Sun Bath Patient]:

"I feel as if just coming out of a bath, very relaxed. Effects will show in a week."

Anyone wishing to prescribe themselves some "heat therapy" should drop by soon. Meteorologists say high temperatures will last four or five days, upon which most areas of Xinjiang will then drop to usher in a cool autumn.