Trees turn oilfield city into modern oasis

More than 277,000 people involved in greening project that started six years ago

An oilfield in the Gobi Desert hardly conjures up visions of an ideal living environment, but the city of Karamay has created a pleasant life for its more than 400,000 residents.

Karamay, in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, is known for its oil and gas rigs, and its name means "black oil" in the Uygur language. Yet this man-made oasis also has some breathtaking scenery and unexpected pleasures.