Why is the Mingsha Mountain in Muli, Xinjiang, known as the "world's loudest"?

On the northeastern edge of the Junggar Basin in Xinjiang, 130 kilometers away from Mulei Kazakh Autonomous County, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, there is a sand hill standing majestically on the gravel-covered Gobi Desert, with a clear boundary from the surrounding flat Gobi. It is the Mulei Mingsha Mountain. There are strong winds and sandstorms here all year round. The constant strong winds change the landforms all year round, and over time, many ochre-red sand dunes have been formed, showing a southwest-to-northeast direction. The largest of them is about 500 meters high and has a vertical height of more than 100 meters.

Different from other sand dunes, Mulei Singing Sand Mountain has a unique phenomenon of singing sand. The local Kazakhs call it "Ayi Akumu", which means "sounding desert". As long as the sand slides along a large area, it will make a rumbling sound. This sound is loud, far-reaching and rhythmic, just like a group of fighter jets operating at low altitude, from far to near, from near to far, with loud and long-lasting sound.

Singing sand is also called ringing sand, whistle sand or musical sand. It is a peculiar but common natural phenomenon in the world. The highest sound of the sand in Mulei Singing Sand Mountain can reach 88 decibels. In 2010, it was measured by Shanghai World Guinness and awarded the certificate of "The Loudest in the World, Mulei Singing Sand Mountain". With the reputation of "The Loudest in the World", Mulei Singing Sand Mountain has successfully "gone viral" and attracts tourists from all over the world to explore its mysterious sound all year round.

What is even more peculiar is that the flowing fine sand of Mulei Mingsha Mountain does not flow from top to bottom, but flows back from bottom to top. This is the magical effect of air pressure and airflow. The quicksand that originally slid down from the sand hill, under the gentle caress of the wind, ripples like the tide of sea water, surges up from the foot of the mountain in waves, and then returns to its original place. The entire sand dune will be restored to its original state, and its majestic appearance remains.

In September 2017, the Mulei Mingsha Mountain National Desert Park was officially named. The scenic area covers an area of ​​3,000 hectares and is the core destination of Mulei County's overall tourism. The poplar forest adjacent to Mingsha Mountain is one of the oldest primitive poplar forests in the world, with a history of at least 65 million years. The huge sand dunes in the scenic area and the poplar forest behind them are interdependent and set off each other. There is stillness in the movement and movement in the stillness, which is quite peculiar.

There is a spring not far from the foot of Mingsha Mountain. The spring water gushes out from the bottom of the sand. It is clear and transparent, shaped like a full moon. It is surrounded by vast yellow sand, but it has not been destroyed for thousands of years. It is a unique sight, adding a bit of magic to Mingsha Mountain.