Urumqi Travel Guide

Urumqi, located on the northern slope of Tianshan Mountains, is the capital city of Xinjiang Autonomous Region and deemed as the most inland city and the city furthest from the ocean. In ancient Mongolian, Urumqi means "A Beautiful Pasture Land" and indeed, it is a beautiful land of the lush pastures, mountains, rivers, lakes and minorities. With an average elevation of 800 meters, Urumqi enjoys a continental climate with the exceptionally bad weather in winter and warm days and cool evening in summer. Here we should indicate that there is a two-hour time difference between Urumqi and Beijing. You’d better not start your travel plan before 8am in the morning since it is still dark at that time.

Due to the special location as the northern route of the Silk Road, Urumqi is the center of politics, economy and culture of the province and regarded as a strategic city in the history. It only has few historical sites in the city and the city's population diversity is different from the other counterparts in China. Although it occupies one sixth of the surface of China, there are only 16 million people living here. There are 43 ethnic groups in the city and the minority population accounts for 27.3% of the total population in the city. Its cultural diversity and breathtaking view attracts visitors to travel there.

The sights in the city itself are not spectacular. But around Urumqi, visitors can find abundant travel sights for daytrips. The main Urumqi attractions include: the Big Bazaar, a traditional Islamic market and gets particularly lively during summer nights; Heavenly Lake, a natural paradise with breath taking scenery, will provide travelers with an experience that makes the 4-hour drive from Urumqi through the seemingly endless desert worthwhile. Other sights worth checking out in Urumqi are the Xinjiang Silk Road Museum and the fun Red Mountain Park, Tianshan Mountain. Think of Lugu Lake with yurts and nomads.