克拉玛依市

Why this place

Karamay means 'black oil' in Uyghur, and it is an oil city built in the Gobi in the 1950s. Its 'ghost city' — the Urho yardang landscape — is a field of wind-eroded rock shapes that look like ruins, and it is one of the most atmospheric desert landscapes in China.

What to see

• The Urho (Wuerhe) Ghost City — wind-carved yardang rock, best at sunset
• The Karamay oil field and the city's industrial heritage
• The Baiyang River valley and the Gobi country around it

What to eat

• Xinjiang lamb, naan and the local Uyghur dishes
• Karamay is known for its 'big-plate' chicken and its melons

Best time

May–October