Kelamayi District Cultural Street

　　A cultural street creatively planned, designed, and invested in by the Kelamayi District Government,

　　Completed in January 2001, it is located in the city center of Karamay, stretching from the Training Gymnasium of the Municipal Sports Bureau in the west to the intersection of Hongxing Road and Linyuan Road in the east. The street is 1,065 meters long and 50–70 meters wide, covering a total area of 70,000 square meters, including 40,000 square meters of green space and 4,900 square meters of water areas. The completion of the Cultural Street represents an attempt by Karamay to create a more garden-like urban environment, artistic landscaping, and art for the public. The street is naturally divided into three segments from west to east — Segment A: Source of Culture; Segment B: Pulse of Culture; Segment C: Light of Culture. The "Source of Culture" uses the origin of water and a giant wooden waterwheel to symbolize the source of historical culture and the ever-flowing source of life. The exploration and development of oil represent the origin of Karamay’s history and culture. Located at the front section of the Cultural Street, the 150-meter-long, 5-meter-high artistic relief wall features 98 vividly sculpted figures, showcasing the geological formation, development, and promising future of the Karamay Oilfield. In addition to the cultural wall, the “Four Symbols & Eight Trigrams Morning Exercise Plaza” in Segment A incorporates the essence of ancient Chinese city culture: the Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise symbolize the four cardinal directions and are associated with the four seasons and the Five Elements (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth), forming the theory of the Five Elements. Together with the Eight Trigrams patterns on the ground, they represent the fundamental origins of all natural and social phenomena in ancient China and form the basis of China’s ancient, simple materialist philosophy. The main components of Segment B — the "Pulse of Culture" — include calligraphy and painting walls, pavilions, winding bridges, an ethnic art corridor, sculptures, and a bell tower. The Ethnic Art Corridor, situated in the middle section of the Cultural Street, is 50 meters long and 4 meters wide, featuring 26 male and female statues that introduce 13 of Xinjiang’s major ethnic groups. All 13 ethnic figures are carved from white marble. With delicate craftsmanship, the sculptor realistically depicts the facial features, clothing, and cultural customs of the thirteen ethnicities. Dozens of artistic sculptures are scattered throughout the Cultural Street. In terms of materials, these include bronze, stainless steel, and stone sculptures; in terms of style, some are abstract while others are realistic. These artworks are placed around pavilions and scenic spots, harmonizing beautifully with the surrounding greenery and lawns, adding charm to the surroundings. The Bell Tower Plaza consists of a bell tower, rockeries, a musical fountain, a large electronic color screen, and an open plaza. It serves as a key venue for gatherings, cooling off, artistic performances, and festive events. The seven-story bell tower stands over 30 meters tall and is embraced by an arc-shaped European-style corridor. Behind it lies a 25-meter-diameter musical fountain. When night falls, the bell tower lights up brilliantly. Accompanied by melodious music, the countless jets of water in the fountain dance gracefully like a maiden or shoot boldly upwards like a warrior drawing his sword, adding a splendid touch to the nightscape of the oil city. Segment C — the "Light of Culture" — creates a mystical and magical world for young people. Six cultural pillars here are carved with traditional Chinese mythological stories such as “Yu the Great Taming the Floods,” “Nüwa Mending the Sky,” “Kuafu Chasing the Sun,” and “Fuxi and the Eight Trigrams.” The Twelve Zodiac Children’s Play Plaza, featuring exquisitely carved animal statues of the twelve zodiac signs paired with a modern musical lighted dry fountain plaza, has become a paradise for children. Kelamayi Cultural Street, with its ingenious design and perfect layout, embodies a seamless blend of the poetic charm of Chinese gardens and the structured precision of Western gardens. It also reflects a harmonious unity between traditional Chinese culture and modern garden design techniques.