Karamay (克拉玛依)

1. Introduction

Karamay City (Uyghur: قاراماي شەھىرى, Latin Uyghur: Qaramay Shehiri, Kazakh: قاراماي) is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. Located on the northwestern edge of the Junggar Basin, it is one of China's important petroleum production bases and implements the "integration of enterprise and city" with the Xinjiang Oilfield Branch of China National Petroleum Corporation (formerly the Xinjiang Petroleum Administration Bureau). The city covers a total area of 7,733 square kilometers. According to the 2020 census data, the permanent population is 490,348, with major ethnic minorities including Kazakhs, Uyghurs, Hui, and Mongolians. In 2022, the city's GDP reached 118.81 billion yuan, an increase of 4.7% compared to the previous year; general public budget expenditure was 12.52 billion yuan, an increase of 8.1%. The Municipal People's Government is located at No. 60 Yingbin Road, Karamay District.

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2. History

"Karamay" is the transliteration of the Uyghur word for "black oil," named after the natural asphalt hill—"Black Oil Mountain"—located in the northeastern part of the city.

In 657 AD, after the Tang Dynasty pacified the Western Turkic Khaganate, it established the Yanbo Chief Commandery in the region, which was under the jurisdiction of the Kunling Protectorate governed by the Anxi Grand Protectorate.

In 1951, the predecessor of the Xinjiang Oilfield Company, the Sino-Soviet Petroleum Company, began general survey and exploration in Karamay. Prior to this, there were no inhabitants in the Karamay urban area.

In February 1955, the Dushanzi Mining District Administrative Work Committee was established.

On October 29, 1955, the Karamay Well No. 1, located in what is now the Karamay District of Karamay City, gushed industrial oil flow.

In 1956, Dushanzi Town was established at the county level, directly administered by the autonomous region. During the same period, the Karamay Oilfield entered a phase of large-scale development and construction. The continuous growth of the petroleum industry and the increasing population gave the city its initial form.

On May 29, 1958, Karamay City was established at the county level, with its administrative area including Karamay, Dushanzi, Kuytun, Liushihu, Urho, Baikouquan, Hongshanzui, Qianshanlaoba, Baijiantan, Xiaoguai, Zhongguai, Daguai, and other areas. On June 17, Dushanzi Town was abolished, and Dushanzi District and Urho District were established under Karamay City. Additionally, three subdistrict offices were set up in Karamay, Daguai, Zhongguai, and Xiaoguai. Karamay City was directly administered by the autonomous region. On July 25, Karamay City was officially established.

On August 29, 1975, Kuytun City was established at the county level, with part of the administrative area of Karamay City designated as Kuytun City's administrative region. It was placed under the jurisdiction of the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, and the prefecture's capital was moved from Yining City to Kuytun City.

On February 16, 1982, Karamay City was upgraded from a county-level city to a prefecture-level city with districts. The city was divided into four districts: Dushanzi District, Karamay District, Baijiantan District, and Urho District.

On August 17, 1984, Karamay City became a county-level city directly administered by the autonomous region without districts. The city established subdistrict offices, townships, and Dushanzi Town.

On January 8, 1990, Karamay City was restored as a prefecture-level city with districts, administering four districts: Karamay District, Dushanzi District, Baijiantan District, and Urho District; two townships: Urho Township and Xiaoguai Township; and six subdistrict offices (Tianshan Road, Shengli Road, Jinlong Town, Wuwu New Town, Sanping Town, Baikouquan). Karamay City is directly administered by the autonomous regional government.

3. Geography

Karamay is located on the northwestern edge of the Junggar Basin, at the southern foot of the Jayir Mountains. Its map coordinates are between 80°44′ and 86°1′ east longitude, and 44°7′ and 46°8′ north latitude. The entire area is shaped like an oblique strip, with a maximum width of 110 kilometers from east to west and a maximum length of 240 kilometers from north to south. Topographically, it is long from north to south and narrow from east to west, with higher elevations in the northwest and lower elevations in the southeast. The vast majority of the area is Gobi desert. The average elevation across the territory is around 400 meters, with the lowest point at Lake Ailik. To the west of the city proper lie the Jayir Mountains and the Qingkesi Mountains, while the Alat Mountains are to the north. The central and eastern parts of the region are open and flat, sloping towards the center of the Junggar Basin.

The entire area of Karamay City is surrounded by Tacheng Prefecture of the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture. It borders Hoboksar Mongol Autonomous County to the northeast, Shawan City to the southeast, Toli County and Usu City to the west, and is separated from its Dushanzi District by Kuytun City to the south, making Dushanzi an enclave.

Karamay has a desert climate (Köppen BWk), with an average annual precipitation of 106 mm. Winter begins in mid-November and lasts until late March; it is cold but dry, with an average January high of −11.2°C. Spring is relatively short (late March to late May) but warm. Summer is dry and hot, with an average July high of 33.9°C. Autumn is mild but transitions quickly.

Karamay's natural water systems consist mainly of river sources and underground springs within its territory. The existing surface water includes three intermittent rivers: the Baiyang River, the Karasu River, and the Darbut River. Lakes include Lake Ailik and Little Lake Ailik. Artificially diverted water primarily comes from the Irtysh–Karamay Water Diversion Project.

3.1 Irtysh–Karamay Water Diversion Project

The Irtysh–Karamay Water Diversion Project (i.e., "Diverting Irtysh River water to Karamay"), also known as the 635 Project (named after the dam's elevation of 635 meters above sea level), transports water from the Irtysh River to the Junggar Basin in north-central Xinjiang. It is primarily used for Karamay's petroleum industry and municipal water supply for its residents. The water delivered by the project can irrigate 140,000 hectares of land. The project was approved and construction began in 1997. Water officially reached Karamay in 2000, forming a river that flows through the city center.

Karamay City Meteorological Data (1981–2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |--------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------| | Record high °C (°F)| 5.8 (42.4) | 12.9 (55.2) | 24.9 (76.8) | 35.6 (96.1) | 39.5 (103.1) | 40.7 (105.3) | 44.0 (111.2) | 42.7 (108.9) | 39.1 (102.4) | 29.9 (85.8) | 20.2 (68.4) | 9.5 (49.1) | 44.0 (111.2) | | Average high °C (°F) | -11.1 (12.0) | -6.5 (20.3) | 5.9 (42.6) | 18.9 (66.0) | 26.3 (79.3) | 31.7 (89.1) | 33.6 (92.5) | 31.9 (89.4) | 25.3 (77.5) | 15.2 (59.4) | 3.3 (37.9) | -7.6 (18.3) | 13.9 (57.0) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | -15.2 (4.6) | -10.9 (12.4) | 1.1 (34.0) | 13.1 (55.6) | 20.4 (68.7) | 25.8 (78.4) | 27.8 (82.0) | 26.1 (79.0) | 19.8 (67.6) | 10.4 (50.7) | -0.5 (31.1) | -11.0 (12.2) | 8.9 (48.0) | | Average low °C (°F) | -18.5 (-1.3) | -14.6 (5.7) | -3.1 (26.4) | 8.2 (46.8) | 15.1 (59.2) | 20.5 (68.9) | 22.5 (72.5) | 20.9 (69.6) | 14.8 (58.6) | 6.3 (43.3) | -3.6 (25.5) | -13.8 (7.2) | 4.6 (40.2) | | Record low °C (°F)| -35.9 (-32.6) | -34.3 (-29.7) | -26.7 (-16.1) | -10.4 (13.3) | 2.1 (35.8) | 9.0 (48.2) | 12.3 (54.1) | 8.2 (46.8) | 0.3 (32.5) | -7.7 (18.1) | -27.2 (-17.0) | -34.3 (-29.7) | -35.9 (-32.6) | | Average precipitation mm (inches)| 4.9 (0.19) | 3.2 (0.13) | 3.5 (0.14) | 8.6 (0.34) | 15.3 (0.60) | 15.9 (0.63) | 23.3 (0.92) | 17.3 (0.68) | 8.3 (0.33) | 7.3 (0.29) | 5.6 (0.22) | 5.8 (0.23) | 119 (4.7) | | Average precipitation days (≥0.1 mm)| 7.7 | 4.5 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 6.1 | 6.9 | 8.1 | 6.9 | 5.0 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 8.9 | 70.5 | | Average Relative Humidity (%)| 78 | 75 | 56 | 34 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 33 | 34 | 46 | 63 | 77 | 49 | | Monthly Sunshine Hours | 140.0 | 159.7 | 220.5 | 258.8 | 291.9 | 295.8 | 302.5 | 298.1 | 266.2 | 221.5 | 139.3 | 99.8 | 2,694.1 | | Percentage of Possible Sunshine (%) | 50 | 55 | 60 | 64 | 64 | 63 | 64 | 68 | 71 | 65 | 49 | 37 | 61 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Karamay City administers 4 municipal districts: Dushanzi District, Karamay District, Baijiantan District, and Urho District. Among these, Dushanzi District is separated from the main urban area, forming an enclave.

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (sq km) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | |----------|----------|----------|----------------|-----------------------|----------|----------|----|----|----| | 650200 | Karamay City | Kèlāmǎyī Shì| 7,733.91 (6,818.89) |490,348 | Karamay District | 834000|14 | 1 | 1 | | 650202 | Dushanzi District | Dúshānzǐ Qū| 400.35 (379.38) |84,395 | Xining Road Subdistrict | 833600| 3 | | |
| 650203 | Karamay District | Kèlāmǎyī Qū|3,833.58 (3,037.29) | 337,188| Kunlun Road Subdistrict | 834000| 8 | |1 |
| 650204 | Baijiantan District | Báijiǎntān Qū| 1,271.66 (1,271.66) | 50,825 | Zhongxing Road Subdistrict | 834000| 2 | | |
| 650205 | Urho District |Wū'ěrhé Qū| 2,228.32 (2,130.55) |17,940| Liushu Street Subdistrict | 834000| 1 | 1 | |

5. Economy

In 2020, the total GDP reached 88.7 billion RMB, with a per capita GDP of $26,200, ranking first among the 659 cities in mainland China. By 2022, it ranked second, just behind Ordos. Overall, Karamay consistently maintains a top ranking in per capita GDP.

In 1988, the 30th anniversary of the city's founding, the Municipal Party Committee proposed to "gradually build Karamay into a comprehensive industrial city centered on oil, with a diversified industrial structure, multiple functions, and outward radiation," while making every effort to avoid the outcome of "the city declining after the oil is depleted."

5.1 Secondary Industry (Energy)

Crude oil and petrochemicals are the pillar industries of the city. From 2018 to 2022, the secondary industry contributed approximately 70% of the GDP, making it the primary source of economic output. Karamay was established as a city precisely because of its oil resources. Initially, all residents were affiliated with the Xinjiang Oilfield Company and had come for the oil industry. In 2022, the Karamay Oilfield produced 17 million tons of crude oil annually. The headquarters of the Xinjiang Oilfield Company is located in Karamay, overseeing the Karamay Oilfield and the Mahu Oilfield, while the Dushanzi Petrochemical Company manages the Dushanzi Refinery in the Dushanzi District.

In 2023, the Karamay Municipal Government released the "Karamay Hydrogen Energy Industry Development Action Plan," aiming to establish Karamay as a pioneering demonstration zone for the transition to new energy in resource-based cities.

5.2 Primary Industry (Agriculture) and Tertiary Industry (High-Tech)

Agriculture in Karamay is relatively weak, accounting for only about 1.5% of the GDP. The Karamay Comprehensive Agricultural Development Zone (also known as the "Large Agriculture" zone) is the city's largest agricultural production base, currently covering a developed land area of 181 square kilometers (271,000 mu, with 200,000 mu of arable land).

The tertiary industry in Karamay primarily consists of high-tech industries and tourism, contributing nearly 30% to the GDP. The city has designated the Baijiantan District as the "Karamay High-Tech Industrial Development Zone," which was upgraded to the "Karamay National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone" at the end of 2022, focusing on the vigorous development of high-tech industries. Concurrently, the city is promoting the cloud computing industry and has established a cloud computing industrial park. Facilities already built include the Huawei Cloud Service Data Center, the China Petroleum (Karamay) Data Center, the China Mobile (Xinjiang) Cloud Computing and Big Data Center, and the Autonomous Region Disaster Recovery Center. A carbon and water-cooled data center is currently under construction, with the total number of server cabinets exceeding 60,000.

6. Transportation

• G3014 Kui'a Expressway, National Highway 217, National Highway 335, S20 Wuke Expressway, and multiple provincial highways pass through the area. There are cross-district buses between the Karamay District and Baijiantan District, while traveling to other districts of Karamay and other prefectures in the autonomous region requires going to the passenger transport station.
• China State Railway Group's Kui–Bei Railway and Ke–Ta Railway pass through the area. Major railway stations include Wuwu Station, Karamay Station, and Baikouquan Station, with only Karamay Station handling passenger services.
• Karamay Guhai Airport, formerly known as Karamay Airport.

7. Education

7.1 Higher Education

• China University of Petroleum (Beijing): A national key university directly under the Ministry of Education, it is the earliest and largest petroleum institution of higher learning in China. It is a national key university characterized by "engineering as the main focus, with a combination of engineering, management, and liberal arts." The Karamay Campus of China University of Petroleum (Beijing) is located in Karamay District, Karamay City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The campus covers an area of over 7,000 mu and is a national key university directly under the Ministry of Education with distinct petroleum characteristics, focusing on engineering while promoting the coordinated development of multiple disciplines. It also has a graduate school. In 1997, the university was among the first to be included in the national "211 Project." In 2006, it became a university under the national "Advantageous Discipline Innovation Platform" project. In 2017, the university was included in the national "Double First-Class" initiative for discipline construction.
• Xinjiang Second Medical College: Also known as Houbo College.
• Karamay Vocational & Technical College

8. Population

According to the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, the city's permanent resident population was 391,008. Compared with the Fifth National Population Census, the population increased by 120,776 over the ten-year period, a growth of 44.69%. The average annual growth rate was 3.76%. Among them, the male population was 203,310, accounting for 52%; the female population was 187,698, accounting for 48%. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 108.32. The population aged 0–14 was 58,141, accounting for 14.87%; the population aged 15–64 was 303,033, accounting for 77.5%; and the population aged 65 and above was 29,834, accounting for 7.63%.

In 2019, the city's total population (excluding the population of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps within its jurisdiction) was 462,347. This included 310,862 registered (hukou) residents and 151,485 temporary residents. The male population was 244,473, accounting for 52.9%, and the female population was 217,874, accounting for 47.1%. By district: Dushanzi District had 89,180 people, Karamay District had 300,723 people, Baijiantan District had 65,044 people, and Urho District had 7,400 people. Among the registered population, ethnic minorities numbered 78,306, accounting for 25.19%, while the Han population was 232,556, accounting for 74.81%. The natural population growth rate was 5.34‰.

According to the 2020 Seventh National Population Census, the city's permanent resident population was 490,348. Compared with the 391,008 people from the Sixth National Population Census, the population increased by 99,340 over the ten-year period, a growth of 25.41%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.29%. Among them, the male population was 259,472, accounting for 52.92% of the total population; the female population was 230,876, accounting for 47.08%. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 112.39. The population aged 0–14 was 70,825, accounting for 14.44% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 351,132, accounting for 71.61%; and the population aged 60 and above was 68,391, accounting for 13.95%, of which the population aged 65 and above was 47,527, accounting for 9.69%. The urban population was 481,249, accounting for 98.14% of the total population; the rural population was 9,099, accounting for 1.86%.

At the end of 2022, the city's permanent resident population was 487,000, of which the urban permanent resident population was 482,000. The urbanization rate was 98.97%, an increase of 0.01 percentage points from the end of the previous year. The annual number of births was 2,500.

8.1 Ethnic Groups

Among the permanent resident population, the Han population was 319,265, accounting for 81.65% of the total population, and the combined population of various ethnic minorities was 71,743, accounting for 18.35%.

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9. Culture

9.1 National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units

• The First Oil Well in Xinjiang
• Karamay No. 1 Well

9.2 Related Literary and Artistic Works

• "Song of Karamay": A song composed by musician Lü Yuan and performed by Lü Wenke, included in Lü Wenke's album "Xisha, My Lovely Hometown" and Lü Yuan's compilation album "Classic Works of Contemporary Chinese Composers: Lü Yuan Album." This song praises the oil workers on the front lines of the Karamay oil field and celebrates the city of Karamay. It was a widely popular song in the 1950s and 1960s.
• "Karamay": A poem created by poet Ai Qing in 1980, in which the poet compares Karamay to a "beauty in the desert."

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Uyghur transliteration, meaning "black oil"

Karamay District

Karamay District

The Han population accounts for 81.65% of the total population, while the ethnic minorities account for 18.35% of the total population.

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