(photo from internet)

Chinese Name: 克拉玛依市 (kè lā mǎ yī shì)

Population: 330,000

Area: 9,500 square kilometers (3,668 square miles)

Nationalities: Han, Uygur

Administrative Division: 4 districts (Karamay, Dushanzi, Baijiantan, Urho)

Location: Karamay is situated in northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region at the edge of the Junggar Basin. The Tianshan Mountains zigzag south of Karamay, and the road mileage between Karamay and Urumqi is 313 kilometers (194 miles).    

History: Karamay is Uygur word meaning "black oil". It gained this name for the Black Oil Mountain near the city proper. After the first oil well of the mountain began to work in 1955, Karamay entered a great era of exploitation and construction.  

(photo from internet)

Physical Features: The terrain of Karamay is long and narrow, higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast. Generally speaking, its western and northern territories are occupied by mountains, while its central and eastern parts are vast open flat spaces.  

Climate: Karamay has a typical continental climate characterized by a lack of rain and quite windy spring and autumn. Winter is extremely cold and summer is roasting, generating a large temperature difference between these two seasons. Comparatively, its spring and autumn are short during a year.

When to Go: spring and autumn

Special Local product: embellished cap, woolen carpet

(photo from internet)

Attractions:
 
Baiyanghe Gorge: 17 kilometers (11 miles) west of Urho District, the gorge is located in the spectacular section along the Baiyang River where the diversiform-leaved poplar forests flourish in the river valleys.

Devil City: Also called "Urho Wind City", the devil city is situated 110 kilometers (68 miles) northeast of Karamay, covering ten square kilometers of stunning Ya-dang landscape. When it is windy in spring and autumn, the rock formations blow like whistles, hence its name, the Devil City.    

Travel Tips:

Karamay Airport is 17 kilometers (11 miles) from downtown Karamay. At present, only one daily flight leaves for Urumqi in the morning for an hour's journey. If traveling to Urumqi from the bus station of Karamay, a ten hours' drive may be needed.