Film and television Ruins in the Gobi: Akse Oil Town

In the depths of the Gobi in Aksai Kazakh Autonomous County, Jiuquan City, Gansu Province, there is a “deserted town” carrying petroleum memories and film and television feelings-Aksai Petroleum Town (formerly Boluo Chuanjing Town). It was once an important stronghold for the development of New China Petroleum, and it was very lively at its peak. Although it has been reduced to ruins due to the depletion of resources, it has become a highly sought after place for Internet celebrities in the Northwest Ring Line due to the filming of the movie “Nine-Story Demon Tower”. ‘Retro ruin aesthetics’. Among the broken walls and ruins, you can not only touch the glorious past of the petroleum industry, but also capture the shocking picture of the “doomsday scene”. It is a must-visit place for history seekers and photography enthusiasts. ​

1. Core overview: from an important oil town to a popular place on the film and television network​

The predecessor of Aksai Petroleum Town was the “Boruo Zhujing Town” established in 1954. Due to the discovery of petroleum resources nearby, it became the old county seat and oil extraction base of Aksai Kazakh Autonomous County. From the 1950s to the 1990s, tens of thousands of oil workers and their families settled here. Schools, hospitals, government office buildings, cinemas and other facilities were readily available. The streets were full of water and dragons. It was a veritable “industrial pearl” in the Gobi, with a population of tens of thousands at its peak. ​

However, with the gradual depletion of oil reserves, coupled with the town’s location in an earthquake-active zone and the shortage of water resources, the Aksai County government as a whole moved to Xinxian City (Hongliuwan Town) in 1998, and the old town was gradually abandoned and reduced to uninhabited ruins. In 2015, the movie ‘Nine-Story Demon Tower’ was filmed here, turning the ruins of the town into a doomsday scene of “the oil town was attacked by monsters”. After the release of the film, it quickly became popular and became a popular attraction for tourists to follow in the footsteps of film and television and shoot retro blockbusters. It has now been moderately developed and preserved.At the same time as the ruins, film and television props and sightseeing facilities have been added. ​

2. Geographical location: the geographical coordinates of the Northwest Loop​

Aksai Petroleum Town is located in Aksai Kazakh Autonomous County, Jiuquan City, Gansu Province. Its geographical coordinates are roughly between 94°40′-94°45′ east Longitude and 39°20′-39°25′ north latitude. It is located on the eastern edge of the Qaidam Basin, close to the G215 National Highway, and specifically located in Aksai New County City (Hongliuwan Town) Southwest.It is about 25 kilometers away, about 120 kilometers away from Dunhuang City, about 130 kilometers away from Mingshashan Crescent Spring Scenic Area, and about 280 kilometers away from Lenghu Petroleum Town. ​

Judging from the regional transportation pattern, it isan important node of the northwest niche ring line of ‘Dunhuang-Axai-Dachaidan’: it is 120 kilometers away from Dunhuang City in the east (1.5 hours by car), about 300 kilometers away from Dachaidan Town in the west (3.5 hours by car), and it is connected to the Dangshan Mountain Range in the north and the Alshan Mountain Range in the south.Together with Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes and Mingshashan Crescent Spring, it forms a golden tour combination of “history and culture + natural landscape + retro ruins’, which is suitable for tandem tours.

3. Traffic guide: Self-driving-led search for ruins​

The town is located in a remote area of the Gobi,with weak public transportation coverage. Self-driving or chartered car is the most convenient wayto reach it. Route planning needs to be combined with the overall itinerary of the Northwest Ring Road.

The most recommended way to get to the oil town of Axel (Boro transfer well film and television base) is by car. The town is located at the junction of Gansu and Qinghai. It is located in the core section of the Qinggan-Gansu Grand Ring Road. It is about 120 kilometers away from Dunhuang. It is traveling northwest along the G215 National Highway. The road conditions are good. It can be easily reached by ordinary cars or SUVS. It takes about 1.5 hours by car. Navigate and search for “Axel Petroleum Town” or “Boro Transfer film and Television Base’. The signs along the way are clear and the signal is stable. It can also be reached from Dachaidan or Xining via the G3011 and G215 national roads, which are indispensable check-in points in the ring road. The area of the scenic area is about 1.5 square kilometers, and the tour requires walking. There is a circular trail, which is about 2 kilometers long and easy to travel, and the tour time is about 1.5 hours. There is a free parking lot at the entrance of the scenic area, with plenty of parking spaces during peak season. If there are no self-driving conditions, you can also charter a car or carpool from Dunhuang. The round trip is about 80-100 yuan per person, which is convenient and flexible.

4. Tickets and open information: a clear and transparent ticket purchase guide

Tickets for Akse Oil Town (Boruo Transfer well film and television base) are implemented in the light and high season system:

30 yuan/person in the high season (April 1st-October 31st), and20 yuan/person in the low season (November 1st-March 31st of the following year).
Ticket-free policy: Children under 6 years old or under 1.2 meters tall, the elderly over 70 years old, the disabled, and active-duty and retired military personnel are free of charge with valid documents.
Half-price discount: minors aged 6-18, full-time students (with student ID), and seniors aged 60-69, 15 yuan in the peak season and 10 yuan in the low season.

Sightseeing car: 20 yuan, optional

Ticket purchase method: On-site purchase at the scenic ticket window, support cash, WeChat, Alipay payment, no reservation required. During peak season, it is recommended to travel at the wrong peak and choose to enter the park before 9 am or after 4 pm to avoid peak traffic.

Opening hours: peak season 8:00-19:00 (stop admission at 18:30), low season 9:00-17:00 (stop admission at 16:30). In case of extreme weather such as snowstorms in winter, the park may be temporarily closed. It is recommended to call the Aksai County Cultural Tourism Bureau for consultation before traveling: 0937-8322687.

Best time to visit：

• 9:00-11:00am: soft light, few people and quiet, suitable for documentary style photos；
• 16:00-18:00pm: The warm light of the setting sun falls on the ruins, and the light and shadow are rich. It is a prime time for filming film and television blockbusters.
  The spring and autumn seasons (April-May, September-October) have a comfortable climate and less wind and sand, making it the best travel season.

5. Must-visit attractions and featured experiences​

(1) Core landscape area​

1. The filming location of ‘Nine-Story Demon Tower’：​

• The core check-in points of the scenic area retain the “abandoned buses”, “damaged oil tankers” and “monster attack scene props” in the movie, and restore the doomsday picture of “The oil town suffered a disaster”. Among them, the skewed buses and rusty oil tankers are iconic shooting props. Visitors can stand next to the props to take pictures, as if they are in a movie scene. It is a must for Internet celebrities to check in. ​

2. Abandoned old architectural complex：​

• The town has retained a number of old buildings in the style of the 1980s and 1990s, including the former Aksai County government office building, hospital, school, cinema, staff dormitory, etc. Slogans of the era such as “Unity and Progress” and “Revitalizing China” still remain on the walls, and some buildings still retain old-fashioned tables and chairs, blackboards, and medical equipment.And other relics, as if time has solidified in the prosperous period of the town, suitable for history lovers to explore. ​

3. Petroleum Industry Heritage Area：​

• Located on the west side of the town, it retains the simple equipment of oil extraction in that year (such as small drilling rigs, oil storage tanks, and oil pipeline wrecks), and the remnants of oil traces can be seen on the ground, which visually shows the industrial history of the oil town. There are fewer tourists here, so it is suitable for shooting industrial-style blockbusters and feeling the struggle of oil workers. ​

4. Retro sculpture and punch-in installation：​

• A number of retro-style punch-in installations have been added to the scenic area, such as “vintage bicycles”, “black and white televisions”, “kerosene lamps” and other props, as well as themed sculptures such as “oil workers” and “Kazakh herdsmen”, which complement the background of the ruins and are suitable for taking retro-style portrait photos for easy filming. ​

(2) Featured experience projects​

1. Film and television style photography creation：​

• The town is a natural ‘retro ruin photography studio”. It is recommended to bring a wide-angle lens (to take panoramic views of the building) and a telephoto lens (to capture slogans and props details), and choose retro-style clothing (such as army green jackets, flared pants, floral shirts) or dark clothing (in contrast to the ruins). In the town, it is recommended to bring a wide-angle lens (to take panoramic views of the building) and a telephoto lens (to capture slogans and props details).Photos of themes such as “Doomsday Escape” and “Retro Life” were taken in front of abandoned buses and old government buildings, and the production rate was extremely high. ​

2. Historical research experience：​

• You can check the historical materials of Aksai Petroleum development in advance (such as the relevant chapters of ‘Aksai County Journal’), look for “era slogans” and “old building signs” in the scenic area, and compare photos of the past and present to feel the rise and fall of the town; there is a simple historical display area (open for free) at the entrance of the scenic area, showing the town back then.The photos of life scenes and oil extraction tools are suitable for parents and children or teams to carry out research on the theme of “Industrial history”. ​

3. Gobi sunset viewing：​

• On the west side of the town is the open Gobi, which is unobstructed, making it a great place to watch the sunset on the Gobi. In the evening from 18:00 to 18:30 (summer), the sunset gradually sinks into the Dangshan Mountains, and the sky shows gradient colors of orange, red and pink purple. The afterglow sprinkles on the ruined buildings, and the atmosphere is very strong. You can take a shocking picture of the same frame as “Ruins and sunset”, and then return to Dunhuang after the end.Or stay in Axeixin County City. ​

6. Practical precautions: both safety and environmental protection​

1. Safety and protection recommendations：​

• Building safety: The walls of some abandoned buildings are loose and the glass is broken. It is strictly forbidden to climb or enter the unopened building without authorization (with a “No entry” sign) to avoid collapsing or scratching accidents.；​

• Sun protection and windproof: The northwest Gobi has extremely strong ultraviolet rays, so you need to wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, ice sleeves, and apply sunscreen with SPF50+ or more (apply once an hour); the town has large winds all year round (average wind speed is 3-4), and you need to prepare a windproof jacket in summer, and a down jacket, scarf, and scarf in winter.Gloves to prevent frostbite；​

• Anti-skid and anti-tripping: Some sections of the trail have gravel and weeds. You need to wear non-slip sports shoes or Martin boots (avoid high heels). Pay attention to your feet when walking to prevent tripping. ​

2. Guidelines for Environmental Protection and Civilization：​

• Littering is strictly prohibited: there are multiple trash cans in the scenic area. All garbage (including food residues, water bottles, and packaging) must be sorted and placed. It is strictly forbidden to dispose of it casually (the Gobi ecology is fragile and the garbage is difficult to degrade, and violators may face fines)；​

• Protection of cultural relics and relics: It is strictly forbidden to portray or graffiti abandoned buildings, and old building components and film and television props may not be demolished or taken away. Violators will be included in the tourism blacklist and re-entry is prohibited.；​

• Civilized photo-taking: When encountering other tourists taking pictures, avoid seizing spots and breaking into the camera at will, keep an appropriate distance, and respect the experience of others. ​

3. Supplies and accommodation tips：​

• Replenishment: There is only a simple convenience store at the entrance of the scenic area (selling mineral water, snacks, and instant noodles at slightly higher prices, such as mineral water 4 yuan/bottle and instant noodles 12 yuan /barrel). No meals are available. It is recommended to purchase dry food (such as bread, chocolate, beef jerky) in Dunhuang City or Axexin County in advance.Rest and replenish at the convenience store with drinking water and rest between tours；​

• Accommodation: There are no accommodation facilities in the town, so you need to return to Dunhuang City or Axeixin County City to check in. Dunhuang City has a wealth of accommodation options, with budget hotels per capita of 150-200 yuan /night, and high-end hotels per capita of 300-500 yuan /night; Axai New County City (Hongliuwan Town) accommodation is mainly budget hotels, per capita of 120-180 yuan /night, peak season (July-August) need to be booked 3-5 days in advance. ​

4. Other practical tips：​

• Communication signal: The mobile phone signal in the scenic area is stable (China Mobile, Unicom, and Telecom all have coverage), and you can normally answer calls, use navigation and pay without worrying about communication problems.；​

• Route connection: It is recommended to arrange a tour of the Mogao Grottoes and Mingshashan Crescent Spring of Petroleum Town and Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes and Mingshashan on the same day or within two days. The drive from Dunhuang to Petroleum Town is only 1.5 hours. You can visit Mogao Grottoes in the morning, go to Petroleum Town in the afternoon, and return to Dunhuang in the evening to save traffic time.；​

• Cultural respect: Aksai County is a settlement of ethnic Kazakhs. If you pass through Xinxian City, you need to respect the customs of local ethnic minorities (such as entering the Kazakh felt house, you need to take off your shoes and not touch ethnic costumes at will) to avoid cultural misunderstandings.