A "devil city", the biggest area of yardangs landform in China, was recently found by Chinese geologists in a spot 180 km near Dunhuang.

The term "yardangs" comes from the Uygur language, meaning "steep hill", and now it refers to a landform of wind-eroded hollows, mounds, etc. When strong wind blows, queer sounds can be heard, so the spot was called a "devil city".

According to Professor Li Daqing, leader of the investigation team from the local prospecting bureau in Gansu Province, told the reporter that the "Devil City" is located on the border of Gansu and Xinjiang and adjacent to Lop Nur, covering a total area of around 400 sq.km and taking shape 700,000-300,000 years ago.

Due to long-term wind erosion, soft sands and small stones have been swept away, leaving behind regular gullies on the ground and standing earth hillocks of different sizes, shaped like human figure, horse, camel, tortoise, crocodile, pole, yurt, palace, castle, mushroom and so on.

When night falls, the wind gives horrifying howls as if the site was haunted by thousands of wild animals. While experts hail it as a geological wonder, the third one of its kind ever found in China.

Now simple houses and roads are being built nearby in preparation to receive tourists this May.

(People’s Daily 04/12/2001)