Black Oil Mountain Travel Guide
The Oil Totem of Karamay: Black Asphalt Mountain
Hei You Mountain is the discovery site of the Karamay Oilfield: oil springs still bubble on the black asphalt hills, and the nearby pumping units are still extracting oil. An introductory station for industrial tourism and urban history, this article explains it clearly.
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Destination Details
Hei You Mountain is located about 2 kilometers northeast of Karamay city center. It is a hill of asphalt formed by the long-term overflow and condensation of underground crude oil. In 1955, the first well of the Karamay Oilfield produced oil nearby, which gave the city its name (in Uyghur, "Karamay" means black oil). The oil springs on the hill are still bubbling today, making it a rare "living" petroleum landscape in the country.
Points Worth Seeing
- Bubble Oil Springs: Black oil pools bubble up; when lit with a flashlight, a rainbow effect appears, which fascinates children.
- Sailimu Bayi Statue: Commemorates the Uyghur elder who first guided the search for oil, serving as a spiritual symbol of the city.
- Oil Pump Cluster: The surrounding oil pumps swing day and night, and shooting silhouettes against the backlight at dusk is very photogenic.
Best Time to Visit
Open for visits year-round, and it can be seen in an hour; it can be combined with Karamay River Scenic Area and Jiulongtan for a half-day city tour.
Transportation and Connections
It is accessible by taxi from the city center, either free or at a low ticket price; to the north, it connects with Urho Ghost City and Baiyanghe Grand Canyon, serving as a midway stop on the Northern Xinjiang circuit.