With its emerald greenery and its religious pagoda and shrines, Red Hill is a landmark of the city.
With its emerald greenery and its religious pagoda and shrines, Red Hill is a landmark of the city. At an elevation of 910 meters (3,000 feet) above sea level, it is located at the very center of the city.
Red Hill is located on the east bank of the Urumqi River. Its shape resembles a mighty wriggling dragon. Red Hill faces Yamalike Hill, which is located on the west bank of the river. The city suffered severe river flooding in 1785 and 1786. Legend says that this flooding was caused by a vicious dragon. If the two mountains (Red Hill and Yamalike Hill) were joined, the Urumqi River would be blocked and would drown the city.
In 1788, Shang An, governor of Urumqi, had pagodas built on top of each of the two hills to suppress the dragon. The reddish-brown Red Hill is crowned by the nine-story, gray brick Zhenlong Pagoda (Pagoda to Suppress Dragons), eight meters (26.4 feet) tall. The hill is dotted with small pavilions.
Over Red Hill's long history, there have been many important religious buildings on this hill. Before Buddhist times, the nomadic Oyrat tribe built an "ebo" here, a stone cairn used by tribesmen to worship and offer sacrifices to their gods. During the Qing period, splendid temples were built to house Buddhist activities. These attracted swarms of visitors. The Temple of the Jade Emperor and the Temple of the Great Buddha were built high on the hill. The Palace of the Dipper was built at the foot of the hill. Unfortunately, warlords of later generations burned these down.(travelchinaguide)
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With its emerald greenery and its religious pagoda and shrines, Red Hill is a landmark of the city. At an elevation of 910 meters (3,000 feet) above sea level, it is located at the very center of the city.
