Red Hill Park

Red Hill Park
Mount Red (also called Red Hill or Tiger Head Hill) gets its name from its reddish brown color. The mountain spans 1.5 kilometers long from east to west at an altitude of 910 meters and a relative height of 400 meters. Its purple sandstone was formed in the Pangaea continental environment 250 million years ago.

The river of Red Hill Park
In the past, the Urumqi River separated Mount Red and its neighboring hill, Mount Yamalike. However, it has since dried up and been turned into a river beach road. Mount Red now stands at the north bank of the Yamalike River, while Mount Yamalike borders the south.

The legend about Red Hill Park
According to ancient legend, long ago a red dragon ran away from the Heaven pool of Mount Bogeda (a mountain in the Tianshan range of Xinjiang). It was caught by the Holy Mother and cut into two pieces. Two mountains were formed from the severing of the dragon. The one in the west was called Mount Yamalike, the one in the east, Mount Red. The Urumqi River was considered to be the Holy Mother's sword, dividing the dragons eternally. The legend itself is rooted in fact.  According to aerial landform photos, Mount Red and Mount Yamalike was at one time a single mountain. Due to stratum rupture, it was divided up into two mountains and the Urumqi was formed.

The view of Red Hill Park
If you look east from the peak of Mount Red, you can see a stone hill stretching west from Mount Bogeda to the dried up Urumqi River. The base of the hill is broken suddenly at the dry river basin, while its tip stands tall and upright like a dragon. In this area, from Mount Red, to the stone hills and marvels along the once gushing Urumqi, to the glorious peak of Mount Bogeda, one can see a land steeped in history, legend, and natural beauty.  Due to Mount Red's legends and physical attributes, it is considered to be a holy place and is worshipped by the local people. It is regarded as a place to offer sacrifices to Mount Bogeda.

The view of Qing Pagoda
A Qing Pagoda (Zhenlong Ta) can be found half way up the mountain. This was built by one of the emperors to ward off the evil dragon and his spirits! There are also a few fairground rides within the grounds here, and a lake to boat on. This is a popular spot with local families who come here to get out of the city for the day.