Karamay Urho Ghost Town
Located in the Urho District of Karamay City, Xinjiang, the Urho Ghost Town is a famous scenic area featuring spectacular Yadan landforms created by millions of years of wind erosion. It is also known as the "Wind City of Urho" because of the strong winds and unique sounds produced among the strange rock formations.
Although its name sounds mysterious, the Ghost Town is actually a natural wonder shaped by wind and nature. The unusual landscapes, mysterious legends, and dramatic desert scenery make it one of the most fascinating destinations in northern Xinjiang.
If you are interested in geological wonders, photography, and unique natural landscapes, Urho Ghost Town is a wonderful place to explore.
Urho Ghost Town
Features:
Chinese Name: 魔鬼城 [mó guǐ chéng]
Location: 100 kilometers away from Karamay City in the southwest
Popular activities: sightseeing, photography, exploring historical legends
Suited to: everyone
Time needed: 3-4 hours
Recommended Xinjiang tours:
10 Days North Xinjiang Photography Tour
11 Days Northern Xinjiang Tour: Keketuohai, Kanas Lake and Turpan
Best Time to Visit Urho Ghost Town:
The best time to visit Urho Ghost Town is from May to September, especially from late spring to early autumn, when the weather is relatively comfortable and the sunlight creates the best conditions for viewing the unique Yadan landscape. During this period, visitors can enjoy the dramatic rock formations, take scenic trains, and capture the mysterious beauty of the desert scenery.
☀️ May to September — Best Season for Sightseeing & Photography
Summer and early autumn are the most popular times to visit Urho Ghost Town. Under the sunlight, the wind-eroded rocks display different colors and shapes, creating a spectacular desert landscape. The clear sky and strong light are especially suitable for photography, allowing visitors to capture the unique atmosphere of the "Wind City."
Minor downside:
The sunshine in Karamay is strong, and the area can be windy and dusty. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and sun protection are recommended.
❄️ October to April — Quiet Desert Landscape
During the colder months, Urho Ghost Town becomes quieter, with fewer visitors and a more mysterious atmosphere. The desert scenery under different weather conditions offers another unique experience.
Minor downside:
Temperatures can be low, and strong winds may make outdoor activities less comfortable.
How to Get to Urho Ghost Town:
Urho Ghost Town is located about 100 kilometers from Karamay City. Most visitors travel through Karamay before heading to the scenic area.
From Urumqi to Karamay
a. By Bus
Visitors can take a long-distance bus from Urumqi to Karamay. The journey takes about 4 hours, and the ticket price is around 200 CNY/person.
After arriving in Karamay, visitors can take a local bus or taxi to continue to Urho District.
From Karamay to Urho Ghost Town
a. By Bus
Visitors can take a bus from Karamay Bus Station to Urho Bus Station. The journey takes about 1.5 hours, and the fare is around 40 CNY/person.
After arriving at Urho Bus Station, visitors can take a taxi to the Ghost Town, which is less than 10 kilometers away.
b. By Taxi or Private Car
Taking a taxi or hiring a private car is a more convenient option, especially for travelers who want more flexibility. A taxi from Karamay to Urho Ghost Town costs about 100 CNY/person, while a chartered car costs around 400 CNY.
What to Explore in Urho Ghost Town:
Urho Ghost Town is a spectacular natural wonder created by wind erosion over millions of years. The combination of strange rock formations, desert scenery, and mysterious legends gives this place a unique atmosphere.
Although it is located in the dry area of the Junggar Basin, the landscape here is full of imagination. The wind has carved the hills into various shapes, making them look like ancient castles, palaces, towers, and other mysterious structures.
Unique Yadan Landforms and Geological Wonders
Urho Ghost Town is a typical Yadan landform area. "Yadan" means "steep hill" in the Uyghur language and refers to a special type of wind-eroded landscape formed in dry and windy environments. The scenic area covers about 10 square kilometers, with the terrain extending mainly in northwest and east-west directions. Over millions of years, wind and weather erosion have created deep valleys, steep cliffs, and strangely shaped hills.
Some rock formations resemble ancient castles, temples and towers, pyramids in Egypt, or even eagles spreading their wings, creating a magical landscape shaped by wind and time.
Every viewpoint offers a different scene, making visitors feel as if they have entered a mysterious natural sculpture park.
Movie Location of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"
Because of its unique scenery, Urho Ghost Town has become a popular filming location for movies and photography projects. The famous Oscar-winning film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" used this area as one of its shooting locations. Its dramatic desert landscape and mysterious atmosphere have attracted more and more visitors to explore this natural wonder.
Urho Ghost Town was also selected as one of the "Three Most Beautiful Yadan Landscapes in China" by China National Geographic, highlighting its exceptional geological beauty.
Magical Legends of the Ghost Town
Legend has it that this place was originally a majestic castle. The men in the castle are handsome and strong, the women in the castle are beautiful and kind, and the people in the castle work hard and live a carefree life with plenty of food and clothing. However, along with the accumulation of wealth, evil gradually took over people's hearts. They began to indulge in fun and alcoholism. In order to compete for wealth, the city was full of intrigue and bloody fights, and everyone's faces became hideous and terrifying. In order to arouse people's conscience, god turned into a ragged beggar and came to the castle. God told the people that it was evil that turned him from a rich man into a beggar, but the "beggar's" words did not work, and instead were insulted and ridiculed by the people in the castle. In a rage, god turned this place into ruins, and all the people in the castle were crushed under the ruins. At night, the souls of the dead wailed in the castle, hoping that god would hear their voices of repentance.
It is said that when strong winds blow through the ruins at night, strange sounds echo among the rocks, which inspired the name "Ghost Town." Although it is only a legend, it adds a layer of mystery and imagination to this already fascinating landscape.
Things to Do in Urho Ghost Town
Take a Scenic Train to Explore the Wind City
From a distance, you will admire Ghost Town's splendor, majesty, and marvel at the ingenious workmanship of nature. Alternatively, you can take a scenic train and then take your time to explore the Ghost Town. When go deep into the Wind City you will feel its extraordinary horror. Surrounded by many strange-shaped mounds, the height of the mound is as high as four stories, and the side walls of the mound stand steeply. If you come here alone, you need to pinch your face with your hands, otherwise you will not believe that everything you see is true. Even on a night when there is no strong wind, it will make people tremble with fear.
Whenever the wind blows, sand and rocks are thrown away, the sky is dark, and strange shadows are blurred. The airflow like arrows swirls around among the strange rocks and mountain craftsmen, making sharp sounds, such as howls of wolves, howling tigers, and screams of ghosts. If the moonlight is bleak at night, the situation is even more terrifying.
Scenic Trains
Photography
Overlooking the Wind City, it looks like a large castle in medieval Europe. There are many large and small castles, high and low. For millions of years, due to wind and rain erosion, the ground has formed ravines of different depths, and the exposed stone layers have been carved into strange shapes by the wind: Some bared their teeth and grinned like monsters; some towered high towers, with distinct stacks of butterflies, resembling an ancient castle. Here it is like a pavilion, with eaves and roofs; there is like a magnificent palace, standing proudly. It's so varied and fascinating. The undulating hillside was covered with blood-red, blue, white and orange stones , just like a witch's beads, adding a little more mystery.
If you like photography, don't miss this opportunity for some nice photos. Try not to go during cloudy or windy days, as the mysterious scenery will be at its best in sunshine.
Travel Tips
What to Prepare:
Sun Protection
The sunshine in Karamay is strong, especially during summer. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat are recommended.
Dust Protection
The area can be windy and dusty. Visitors may prepare items such as a scarf, mask, or head covering for better comfort.
Comfortable Shoes
Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, as visitors need to walk around viewing areas and explore the unique landscape.
Suggested Visiting Time
Most visitors spend around 3–4 hours exploring Urho Ghost Town. It is recommended to visit in the afternoon and stay until sunset, when the sunlight creates the most beautiful colors on the Yadan landscape.
Travel Information
Opening Time: Year-round 10:00–18:00
Customer Service Phone: 0990-6964701
Admission Fee: 60 CNY/person
Scenic Train: 40 CNY/person
Located in the Urho District of Karamay City, Xinjiang, the Urho Ghost Town is a famous scenic area featuring spectacular Yadan landforms created by millions of years of wind erosion. It is also known as the "Wind City of Urho" because of the strong winds and unique sounds produced among the strange rock formations.
Although its name sounds mysterious, the Ghost Town is actually a natural wonder shaped by wind and nature. The unusual landscapes, mysterious legends, and dramatic desert scenery make it one of the most fascinating destinations in northern Xinjiang.
If you are interested in geological wonders, photography, and unique natural landscapes, Urho Ghost Town is a wonderful place to explore.
Urho Ghost Town
Features:
Chinese Name: 魔鬼城 [mó guǐ chéng]
Location: 100 kilometers away from Karamay City in the southwest
Popular activities: sightseeing, photography, exploring historical legends
Suited to: everyone
Time needed: 3-4 hours
Recommended Xinjiang tours:
10 Days North Xinjiang Photography Tour
11 Days Northern Xinjiang Tour: Keketuohai, Kanas Lake and Turpan
Best Time to Visit Urho Ghost Town:
The best time to visit Urho Ghost Town is from May to September, especially from late spring to early autumn, when the weather is relatively comfortable and the sunlight creates the best conditions for viewing the unique Yadan landscape. During this period, visitors can enjoy the dramatic rock formations, take scenic trains, and capture the mysterious beauty of the desert scenery.
☀️ May to September — Best Season for Sightseeing & Photography
Summer and early autumn are the most popular times to visit Urho Ghost Town. Under the sunlight, the wind-eroded rocks display different colors and shapes, creating a spectacular desert landscape. The clear sky and strong light are especially suitable for photography, allowing visitors to capture the unique atmosphere of the "Wind City."
Minor downside:
The sunshine in Karamay is strong, and the area can be windy and dusty. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and sun protection are recommended.
❄️ October to April — Quiet Desert Landscape
During the colder months, Urho Ghost Town becomes quieter, with fewer visitors and a more mysterious atmosphere. The desert scenery under different weather conditions offers another unique experience.
Minor downside:
Temperatures can be low, and strong winds may make outdoor activities less comfortable.
How to Get to Urho Ghost Town:
Urho Ghost Town is located about 100 kilometers from Karamay City. Most visitors travel through Karamay before heading to the scenic area.
From Urumqi to Karamay
a. By Bus
Visitors can take a long-distance bus from Urumqi to Karamay. The journey takes about 4 hours, and the ticket price is around 200 CNY/person.
After arriving in Karamay, visitors can take a local bus or taxi to continue to Urho District.
From Karamay to Urho Ghost Town
a. By Bus
Visitors can take a bus from Karamay Bus Station to Urho Bus Station. The journey takes about 1.5 hours, and the fare is around 40 CNY/person.
After arriving at Urho Bus Station, visitors can take a taxi to the Ghost Town, which is less than 10 kilometers away.
b. By Taxi or Private Car
Taking a taxi or hiring a private car is a more convenient option, especially for travelers who want more flexibility. A taxi from Karamay to Urho Ghost Town costs about 100 CNY/person, while a chartered car costs around 400 CNY.
What to Explore in Urho Ghost Town:
Urho Ghost Town is a spectacular natural wonder created by wind erosion over millions of years. The combination of strange rock formations, desert scenery, and mysterious legends gives this place a unique atmosphere.
Although it is located in the dry area of the Junggar Basin, the landscape here is full of imagination. The wind has carved the hills into various shapes, making them look like ancient castles, palaces, towers, and other mysterious structures.
Unique Yadan Landforms and Geological Wonders
Urho Ghost Town is a typical Yadan landform area. "Yadan" means "steep hill" in the Uyghur language and refers to a special type of wind-eroded landscape formed in dry and windy environments. The scenic area covers about 10 square kilometers, with the terrain extending mainly in northwest and east-west directions. Over millions of years, wind and weather erosion have created deep valleys, steep cliffs, and strangely shaped hills.
Some rock formations resemble ancient castles, temples and towers, pyramids in Egypt, or even eagles spreading their wings, creating a magical landscape shaped by wind and time.
Every viewpoint offers a different scene, making visitors feel as if they have entered a mysterious natural sculpture park.
Movie Location of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"
Because of its unique scenery, Urho Ghost Town has become a popular filming location for movies and photography projects. The famous Oscar-winning film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" used this area as one of its shooting locations. Its dramatic desert landscape and mysterious atmosphere have attracted more and more visitors to explore this natural wonder.
Urho Ghost Town was also selected as one of the "Three Most Beautiful Yadan Landscapes in China" by China National Geographic, highlighting its exceptional geological beauty.
Magical Legends of the Ghost Town
Legend has it that this place was originally a majestic castle. The men in the castle are handsome and strong, the women in the castle are beautiful and kind, and the people in the castle work hard and live a carefree life with plenty of food and clothing. However, along with the accumulation of wealth, evil gradually took over people's hearts. They began to indulge in fun and alcoholism. In order to compete for wealth, the city was full of intrigue and bloody fights, and everyone's faces became hideous and terrifying. In order to arouse people's conscience, god turned into a ragged beggar and came to the castle. God told the people that it was evil that turned him from a rich man into a beggar, but the "beggar's" words did not work, and instead were insulted and ridiculed by the people in the castle. In a rage, god turned this place into ruins, and all the people in the castle were crushed under the ruins. At night, the souls of the dead wailed in the castle, hoping that god would hear their voices of repentance.
It is said that when strong winds blow through the ruins at night, strange sounds echo among the rocks, which inspired the name "Ghost Town." Although it is only a legend, it adds a layer of mystery and imagination to this already fascinating landscape.
Things to Do in Urho Ghost Town
Take a Scenic Train to Explore the Wind City
From a distance, you will admire Ghost Town's splendor, majesty, and marvel at the ingenious workmanship of nature. Alternatively, you can take a scenic train and then take your time to explore the Ghost Town. When go deep into the Wind City you will feel its extraordinary horror. Surrounded by many strange-shaped mounds, the height of the mound is as high as four stories, and the side walls of the mound stand steeply. If you come here alone, you need to pinch your face with your hands, otherwise you will not believe that everything you see is true. Even on a night when there is no strong wind, it will make people tremble with fear.
Whenever the wind blows, sand and rocks are thrown away, the sky is dark, and strange shadows are blurred. The airflow like arrows swirls around among the strange rocks and mountain craftsmen, making sharp sounds, such as howls of wolves, howling tigers, and screams of ghosts. If the moonlight is bleak at night, the situation is even more terrifying.
Scenic Trains
Photography
Overlooking the Wind City, it looks like a large castle in medieval Europe. There are many large and small castles, high and low. For millions of years, due to wind and rain erosion, the ground has formed ravines of different depths, and the exposed stone layers have been carved into strange shapes by the wind: Some bared their teeth and grinned like monsters; some towered high towers, with distinct stacks of butterflies, resembling an ancient castle. Here it is like a pavilion, with eaves and roofs; there is like a magnificent palace, standing proudly. It's so varied and fascinating. The undulating hillside was covered with blood-red, blue, white and orange stones , just like a witch's beads, adding a little more mystery.
If you like photography, don't miss this opportunity for some nice photos. Try not to go during cloudy or windy days, as the mysterious scenery will be at its best in sunshine.
Travel Tips
What to Prepare:
Sun Protection
The sunshine in Karamay is strong, especially during summer. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat are recommended.
Dust Protection
The area can be windy and dusty. Visitors may prepare items such as a scarf, mask, or head covering for better comfort.
Comfortable Shoes
Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, as visitors need to walk around viewing areas and explore the unique landscape.
Suggested Visiting Time
Most visitors spend around 3–4 hours exploring Urho Ghost Town. It is recommended to visit in the afternoon and stay until sunset, when the sunlight creates the most beautiful colors on the Yadan landscape.
Travel Information
Opening Time: Year-round 10:00–18:00
Customer Service Phone: 0990-6964701
Admission Fee: 60 CNY/person
Scenic Train: 40 CNY/person
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