Youshashan (Oil Sand Mountain)
油砂山
A bare mountain southeast of Huatugou with exposed oil-bearing sands; colourful folded strata and oil relics make it one of the starting points of petroleum development in the Qaidam Basin.
Youshashan lies about 15 km southeast of Huatugou town, beside National Highway 315. It is named for its oil sand: crude oil seeps through the rock, and the sandstone is dark brown. In the 1950s, geologists discovered oil sands here, launching petroleum development in the Qaidam Basin, and a memorial stands on the mountain. The steeply tilted, folded layers of red, yellow and grey strata are spectacular in sunlight, and you can look out over Gas Hure Lake and the Kunlun Mountains. Most of the area is open, so you can stop by car to take photos. Do not enter oilfield work zones, and take care when climbing, as the slopes are loose and steep.
Opening hours
All day