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View Plans & PricingArea: 7,734 km²
Population: ~490,000 (2020)
Karamay (Kelamayi) means "black oil" in the Uyghur language, named after the Karamay Oilfield discovered in 1955. It is a major oil city in northern Xinjiang.
7.0/10 — Residents enjoy a balanced lifestyle with modern amenities and cultural richness.
Karamay Airport (KRY) has domestic flights. Karamay Railway Station connects to Urumqi and other cities on the Kuytun–Beitun railway. Buses and taxis serve the city.
China University of Petroleum (Beijing) Karamay Campus and Xinjiang Medical University Karamay College are the main institutions.
Karamay lies in the Junggar Basin with an arid continental climate. It has vast oil and natural gas reserves, and is surrounded by desert and the Karamay River.
Visit the Karamay Oilfield Museum, Black Oil Mountain, World Devil City (Urho Ghost Town), and the Karamay River scenic area.
Day 1: Black Oil Mountain and Oilfield Museum.
Day 2: Day trip to World Devil City.
Try Xinjiang lamb kebabs, hand-pulled noodles, pilaf, grilled fish, and Uyghur-style yogurt.
Oil-themed souvenirs, jade, dried fruits, and Uyghur crafts are popular in the city center bazaars.
Local Vibe: Karamay (克拉玛依) feels like Central Asia — bazaars, lamb, naan, and Uyghur music. Locals are hospitable, proud, and used to being a world crossroads. Visitors love the authentic atmosphere, friendly advice, and the way Xinjiang lamb kebabs shows up on every local menu.
Fun Facts:
• Karamay is home to the Karamay Oilfield Museum, a local highlight that reflects the city's character and history.
• The city blends everyday modern life with long-standing traditions, making it a great place to experience real China.
• Xinjiang lamb kebabs is one of the local flavors visitors remember most — ask a local where they eat it.
Locals in Karamay have their own regional flavor of Mandarin. Try these to sound like one of the crowd:
Yaxshimusiz — Hello (Uyghur).
Rahmat — Thank you.
Nahayati yaxshi — Very good.
• Amannisa Khan — The legendary Uyghur musician who compiled the Twelve Muqam.
• Mahmut Kashgari — An 11th-century Turkic scholar who wrote the first comprehensive Turkic dictionary.
• Zhang Qian — The Han explorer passed through Xinjiang on the Silk Road.
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