If you open your childhood memories, do you still remember *The Adventures of Tintin*? Yes, it’s a classic animated series that accompanied many people’s growth. However, in the episode *Land of Black Gold*, the oil fields and derricks that appeared might have been beyond the understanding of most kids at that age — not to mention the meaning behind the term “black gold,” let alone the crucial role petroleum plays in human survival and development. Some might even stubbornly assume that oil only exists in deserts.
As we grow older, we gradually gain a basic understanding of petroleum — this precious gift from nature — because every aspect of daily life and nearly every object around us has some connection to oil. Yet in reality, urban dwellers know very little about petroleum. They don’t know what real oil fields look like, how oil workers drill wells and extract crude oil, or how petroleum is refined.
To unveil the mysteries of petroleum,2016Year10Month29to11Month2, the “CNPC Accompanies – Oil Origins Silk Road Self-Drive Tour,” organized by China National Petroleum Corporation Sales Company and hosted by Yuntu Integrated Marketing and Automotive Life Newspaper, will set off from Taoshuping Gas Station in Lanzhou City, Gansu Province. Traveling along the Silk Road, the tour will pass through Wuwei, Zhangye, Yumen, Jiayuguan, and other destinations, ultimately arriving in Dunhuang.Over the course ofYOUdays, participants will be taken deep into oil fields, refineries, and petrochemical research institutes5to explore the evolution of a single drop of oil and experience petroleum culture. The journey also retraces the steps of our predecessors, offering a glimpse of how landscapes have transformed over time.Originating during the Western Han Dynasty, the Silk Road is an economic corridor connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa. It has been regarded as a treasure and one of China’s iconic symbols throughout history. Along this path, forged through great hardship by our ancestors, there were also individuals who tirelessly trekked every inch of land, steadfastly seeking oil in solitude. The “CNPC Accompanies – Oil Origins Silk Road Self-Drive Tour” will include visits to the CNPC Lanzhou Petrochemical Research Institute, Yumen Oilfield, and Qinghai Oilfield.
is located on the banks of the Yellow River, in the western suburbs of Lanzhou — a key city along the ancient Silk Road. Its predecessor was the former Lanzhou Chemical Industry Company’s Chemical Research Institute, established in.1958Here, visitors can get up close to petroleum and learn about every stage from extraction to refining, gaining an in-depth understanding of the production process of a single drop of oil.Yumen Oilfield, nestled in the heart of the Gobi Desert and at the foot of the Qilian Mountains, is home to China’s first oil well, first oil field, and first petrochemical base. Today, it serves as a major training ground, experimental site, and research hub for China’s petroleum industry, shouldering the historic mission of “developing products, talent, experience, and technology.”Here, you can revisit the history and culture of early oil extraction, admire the beauty of “fire beneath the earth,” meditate before the monument of the “No. 1 Well,” and recall the youth once dedicated by generations of petroleum workers.
Qinghai Oilfield is one of China’s earliest developed oilfields. Located on the northwestern edge of Qinghai Province, within the Qaidam Basin — known as the “treasure basin” — it serves as a vital oil production and supply base for both Qinghai and Tibet. Though its base is situated in Dunhuang, a world-renowned historical and cultural city and tourist destination, it has now become an important center for scientific research, design, education, and training for Qinghai Oilfield.“The CNPC Lanzhou Petrochemical Research Center”Oil wells stand out strikingly against the backdrop of Yardang landforms.
Memory — Tracing the Footsteps of Our Predecessors
China National Petroleum Corporation Lanzhou Chemical Research Center
The oil wells stand out strikingly against the Yardang landform
Reminiscence — Tracing the Footsteps of Our Ancestors
Having seen many scenic spots and legendary landscapes, if it isn’t a deeply moving experience, those sights may remain nothing more than empty words on the page of a literati. But the Silk Road is different,with its deserts, long rivers, Gobi deserts, towering mountains, as well as thought-provoking Buddhist niches, the Great Wall, grottoes, ancient roads, castles, and countless captivating historical legends that seem to transport us through time and space.“China Petroleum AccompaniesYOU” The Oil Exploration Silk Road Self-Drive Tour willfollow in the footsteps of Zhang Qian, Huo Qubing, Xuanzang, and others to witness the dramatic changes of the thousand-year-old Silk Road.
On the first day, you’ll visit Baita Mountain Park, where you can stand atop the pagoda to take in the full view of Lanzhou City and the Yellow River. You can also find a teahouse at the mountaintop, sip tea, chat, and enjoy a leisurely life in the breeze. Then head to the Tianti Mountain Grottoes, located about50kilometers south of Wuwei City. Climb the steps to admire the murals and Buddha statues, and take in the spectacular scenery formed by the mountain, water, Buddha, and clouds.
On the second day, you’ll enter Zhangye Wetland Park, known as“half reeds, half temples,”which isone of the largest urban wetland parks in northwestern China. The park has fresh air, with golden reeds swaying everywhere, and you can also gaze at the snow-capped Qilian Mountains in the distance. The Danxia landform is a hallmark of Zhangye. At the Zhangye Danxia Geological Park, you can see thousands of cliffs and mountains displaying vibrant shades of vermillion and reddish-brown, especially under the sunlight, where the uniquely shaped hills and mountains are colorful and majestic.
On the third day, you’ll ascend the Jiayuguan Pass, known as the
On the fifth day, you’ll arrive in Dunhuang, known as the
“Oasis in the Gobi,” where you’ll visit the Mogao Grottoes, one of China’s four major grottoes, home to world-renowned murals and statues. You’ll also go to the Mingsha Mountain, named for the sound made by shifting sands. The entire mountain is made up of fine, soft, smooth, and round sand grains in red, yellow, green, black, and white, forming a beautiful landscape.5Of course, during the-day journey, you won’t want to miss trying the local specialties, such asHalal hand-grabbed lamb, pita bread soaked in lamb soup, highland wheat gluten strips,donkey meat with yellow noodles,
small noodle pieces, Q pot flatbread, and buttered tsampa.
Enjoy – Experience Premium ServiceYOUAs the organizer of the “China Petroleum Accompanies2” Oil Exploration Silk Road Self-Drive Tour, PetroChina has inherent advantages in resources and services. Leveraging its
tens of thousands of gas stations across the country, it has built an “People · Vehicle · Life” ecosystem, providing tangible assistance to travelers “on the road” and allowing them to enjoy the service of “savoring every stop of life.”YOUAt the gas stations along the “China Petroleum Accompanies
” Oil Exploration Silk Road Self-Drive Tour, participants can experience self-service refueling, self-service car washing, shopping at the Kunlun Goodwill convenience stores, visiting safety operation demonstrations, and more, experiencing the intelligent and comprehensive service style of PetroChina gas stations – a highlight of this self-drive tour.YOUAs for the logistical support of the self-drive tour, the partners of the “China Petroleum AccompaniesYOU” Oil Exploration Silk Road Tour – Shenzhou Car Rental and FAW Bestune – will provide professional off-road vehicles. Sunshine Travel Agency, as a travel expert, will offer well-planned routes, handle accommodation and meals, and provide guides for attractions. Zhongyi Life Insurance also offers free insurance for all participants and vehicles. It can be said that with “China Petroleum Accompanies
Experience – Enjoy the Fun of the Missions
on the "CNPC CompanionYOU" Oil Origins Silk Road Self-Drive Tour, the organizers have also set up a special event — the story of a "self-drive tour passport."
Specifically, each self-drive tourist will receive a customized self-drive tour passport, and over the course of5days, they can earn points by participating in experiences, sharing on Weibo and WeChat, and other activities. Upon reaching the final destination, Dunhuang, staff will tally each participant's self-drive tour passport and total points. The top5participants will be awarded the "Strive for Excellence in Oil" prize. Moreover, the points on the passport can be linked to one’s own CNPC fuel card and directly added to the individual account, allowing the redemption of desired items from the points mall.
Before the end of the event, an official representative from CNPC will use a jade seal engraved with the words "CNPC Self-Drive Tour Club" to stamp an ancient parchment map, symbolizing the successful completion of the entire self-drive journey and the successful conclusion of the event. Each participant will receive a time capsule as a keepsake, which includes a parchment map and a group photo, serving as exclusive mementos of this event.
Traveling along the "CNPC CompanionYOU" Oil Origins Silk Road Self-Drive Tour, you’ll follow in the footsteps of our ancestors, journey through a tunnel of time, and experience the spirit of petroleum,while enjoying the fun of the mission challenges, giving yourself a chance to relax both body and mind. If you can take a break from work, why not join the "CNPC CompanionYOU" Oil Origins Silk Road Self-Drive Tour? This is not just a self-driving trip, but also a pursuit of beauty and wonder...