Karamay, a city with charm born from oil

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Karamay: A city with charm born from oil Overview of Karamay “Karamay” means “black oil” in Uyghur language. The city of Karamay is located on the northwest edge of the Junggar Basin in Xinjiang. On October 29, 1955, an industrial oil flow gushed from Well K-1, giving birth to China’s first large oil field—the Karamay Oil Field. On May 29, 1958, Karamay City was established, comprising four administrative districts: Karamay, Dushanzi, Baijiantan, and Wuerhe, with a total area of over 7,700 square kilometers. In just over 60 years, Karamay has developed into a modern, new-type oil city. The children viewed the exhibition photos of the “Karamay Model Parade Passing Through Tiananmen Square”. Photo by Zhang Geping. Today, Heiyoushan has become a popular tourist destination. The Karamay River flows through the city. During major festivals such as Spring Festival, the entire city of Karamay is decorated with lights to celebrate these special occasions. Youbei Community in Tianshan Road Sub-district, Karamay, held a themed activity titled “One Family in Youbei, One Heart for All Ethnic Groups, Working Together to Realize a Common Dream”. The beautiful night view of the city in Karamay. Jiulongtan is the source of the Karamay River, and it is located in the Dongjiao Waterfall Scenic Area, which lies at the beginning of the scenic route along the Karamay River through the city. Modern agriculture is full of vitality, and remarkable progress has been made in the development of new rural areas. 　　Karamay, a city brimming with brilliance; what flows through it is black gold, and what shines there is the brilliance of oil workers, as precious as gold and jade. 　　Wanderers from afar and hurried passersby all stop to take a look and find out more. What force transformed Karamay from an ancient wasteland into a beautiful desert oasis and a jewel of the Gobi? 　　63 years ago, in those passionate times, the solemn oath of \"settle down, take root, persevere despite difficulties, and never give up\" still echoes in our ears. With the oil gushing from Well No. 1 in Karamay, China’s first large oil field—the Karamay Oil Field—was born, composing the first heroic anthem for the country’s petroleum industry. 　　Over the past 63 years, the Karamay Oil Field has remained vibrant, producing a total of 370 million tons of oil to date. Now, with the discovery of two large oil fields in Mayi Lake and Jimusaer, each with reserves of 1 billion tons, Karamay is once again at the forefront. 　　The first large oil field discovered in New China, the first large oil field in the western region to produce 10 million tons of oil in the new century; crude oil production has remained on the rise for 28 consecutive years, and output has stayed above 10 million tons for 16 years… This astonishing miracle took place in this magical land. 　　Born from oil, thrived by oil. Amidst the loud singing, oil entrepreneurs work hard to build. In 1958, Karamay City was established, growing alongside the oil field. 　　National Civilized City, National Hygienic City, China Habitat Environment Excellence Award, **Garden City, **Model Environmental Protection City… This uniquely beautiful oil city has captured the world’s attention and inspired admiration. 　　In the blink of an eye, after more than 60 years of hard work, the Karamay Oil Field has become an important petroleum and petrochemical hub in China. Today, it serves as the main site for the project aimed at producing 50 million tons of oil and gas equivalent in Xinjiang during the 13th Five-Year Plan period, and it functions as a driving force for steady development as well as a model area for harmonious development between enterprises and local communities, embarking on a new journey toward further achievements. Karamay is accelerating the transformation and upgrading of its city, as well as the optimization of its economic structure, and is increasingly becoming a modern oil city characterized by a dynamic economy, an attractive environment, a prosperous and harmonious society, and a prosperous standard of living for its people. 　　Dare to transform heaven and earth. Today’s Karamay is a beautiful and clean city with a strong modern vibe. The Karamay River is like a jade belt embedded in the city; along its banks, there are small bridges over flowing water, lush trees providing shade, and citizens strolling leisurely. At night, Fountain Square is filled with laughter and joy; the colorful water jets shining against each other create a breathtaking sight, reminiscent of the water towns in the Jiangnan region. 　　From the desolate Gobi landscape described in Lü Yuan’s “Song of Karamay” – a place without grass, no water, and even no birds flying there – to the description in Yi Zhongtian’s “Ode to Karamay” of a place full of charm and beauty, comparable to lush green fields just beginning to sprout ； Full of charm, especially when the lights come on… It’s like the north yet resembles the south of the country; there are no fishing boats, but there are evening songs – it’s a truly magnificent scene. Karamay, the holy land of China’s petroleum industry and a precious gem in the far northwest of the motherland, is shining with dazzling brilliance, continuing to make contributions to the energy industry. Planning: Chang Fei; Writing: Song Peng, Sang Shengjiang