Baikouquan–Urho Oilfield Pumpjacks
克拉玛依油田
Along the G217 from Karamay to Urho Yardang, rows of pumpjacks nod up and down across the Gobi day and night, a roadside view that only an oil city can offer.
On the roughly 100-plus km drive from Karamay city northeast along National Highway G217 toward the Urho Yardang, hundreds of pumpjacks, commonly called “nodding donkeys,” stand across the Gobi on both sides of the road. They rise and fall in the setting sun, forming a distinctive industrial landscape. This is the most direct expression of Karamay as an oil city, and it’s a favorite stop for self-drivers on the Northern Xinjiang Loop to take photos. The area belongs to oil production zones such as Baikouquan and Urho. The oilfield facilities are production sites and off-limits, so you can only pull over at safe spots on the roadside to view and photograph them from a distance. Don’t stop randomly on expressways or main roads. The best plan is to shoot silhouettes of the pumpjacks in the evening on the way to the Yardang, then see the sunset there. Along the route, you can also stop at the Baiyang River Grand Canyon, known for its colorful canyon scenery, and the Urho Populus Euphratica Forest. There is no admission fee.
Opening hours
All day (roadside viewing only)