Stone Valley, one of the biggest stone landscapes in Northwest China, is situated 48 km northeast of Bole, a northwestern city in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
The Kazak name of the valley means the place with goat-shaped stones. Due to the earth's crustal movement in antiquity and wind erosion over centuries, the landscape of the valley features stones of various shapes.
At the entrance of the valley stands a huge rock like a dinosaur looking up at the sky. Once walking inside the narrow valley, tourists will marvel at the sight of more variedly shaped stones in the mountains along the valley.
Some of them remind visitors of different kinds of animals, such as creeping crocodiles, bounding gazelles and hawks with their wings spread.
Locals say that almost every stone in the valley has a story to tell.
In sharp contrast with the vast yellow desert, the russet stones of the valley are eye-catching.
An occasional sight of wild grass and small trees in the mountains along the way bring rare life to the mysterious land. Further deep into the valley live a few households.
Framed by the cloud-kissing mountains, the sky is narrowed into a threadlike space.
Without big rivers or lakes, the valley embraces a leaping brook.
In the rocky wall of the mountain near the stream are some simple-lined ancient rock carvings.
Though eroded by time, the rock carvings can still be recognized as a horse leading its foals and a wolf.
In addition, to the south of the valley lie dozens of ancient tombs that are at least 1,000 years old, which add to the legends connected with this wonderland.
The stone valley is under the administration of the fifth division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Group.
Source: China Daily
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