Overview
Located in the northwest of China, Urumqi is the capital of Xinjiang
Autonomous Region. With a population of 2.35 million, Urumqi encompasses an area
of 12000 square meters with 235.9 square meters for urban downtown. It is said
to be the most inland city in the world, that being the furthest from any ocean.
Most people in Urumqi can speak some level of Mandarin Chinese.
As the political, economic and cultural center of Xinjiang, Urumqi is an
expansive industriopolis, which led all the rest of the 11 provincial capitals
in western part of China in many fields. Urumqi has seven districts plus one
county under its jurisdiction including Tianshan District, Sharyibark District,
Toutunhe District, Shuimogou District, Xinshi District, Dongshan District,
Nanshan Mine District and Urumqi county.
Urumqi is a multinational city, where 49 nationalities live in compact of
mixed communities. Besides Han, the ethnic groups include the Uygur, Hui, Kazak,
Mongolian, Kirgiz, Xibe, etc. 24.6% of the total population are minority people.
Tourists are always amazed by the unique ethnic life styles and their
traditional cultures.
Since Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 BC), as part of Cheshi Kingdom, the
Urumqi and nearby area was put under the administration of the Han Empire. In
Tang Dynasty (618 ? 907 BC), more troops were sent to the region for farming and
guarding the territory to prevent the invasion of nomadic tribes. In Qing
Dynasty (1644 ? 1911 BC), a city wall was built in the south of present Urumqi,
and it was named Dihua by Qianloing Emperor. In 1954, the city name was
changed back to Urumqi by the local government.
Nowadays, Urumqi has become a transportation hub at northwest of China,
which has international regular flights and trains connecting Russia, Turkey,
and central Asian countries. For international tourists, Urumqi is the stopover
for the further exploration of Xinjiang and the Silk Road.
Attractions
Tianchi Lake (Heavenly Lake)
115 km northeast of Urumqi at an elevation of 1980m, the small deep-blue
lake is surrounded by hills covered with fir trees and grazed by horses.
Scattered around are the yurts of the Kazakh people who inhabit the mountains;
nearby are the 5445m-high Bogda Peak and some other snow-covered ones in
Tianshan Range.
Labeled as a Chinese version of Swiss lakes, the area is frequently
touristed in the summer months and offers a range of activities including
horseback riding, hiking, boating and authentic yurt accommodation.
The Museum of Xinjiang Autonomous Region
Covering an exhibiting area of 7800 square meters, the museum, of Uygur and
Russian styles, is constructed in 1953. A green-tiled dome tops 18m above the
main hall and enormous mural & relief decorate the walls, domes, and
entrance. The exhibiting articles of this museum are mainly from two sources,
archaeological treasures from the Silk Road and the local cultural relics. The
museum is divided into different sections: a Mongol wing, a Tajik exhibition, a
Kazak exhibition and a Dauer people and relics display. In total there are over
50,000 items in the collection.
Red Hill (Hongshan Park)
On the east bank of Urumqi River, 910m (3000 feet) Red Hill is located at
the very center of the city, which resembles a mighty dragon. This reddish-brown
hill is dotted with some small pavilions and atop stands a nine-storey pagoda
first founded in 1788 by Shang An - governor of Urumqi.
Legend said that in 1785 and 1786 the city suffered river floods, which was
considered that building a pagoda at the top of the hill could subdue the
vicious dragon living underneath and prevent the floods coming again. Visitors
can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire city of Urumqi. The hill has been
widely accepted as the symbol of the city.
Southern Pasture
60 km south of Urumqi (2 hours ride), Southern Pasture is a draw for
tourists to see the beautiful highland pasture and unique pastoral life of Kazak
people. In fact, Urumqi in Mongolian language just means Pretty Pasture.
The pasture covers an area of about 120 square meters with snow-capped
mountains, extensive meadow and forest, sparkling waterfalls and brooks in the
range. It has become a famous summer resort in Xinjiang.
The land is inhabited by Kazakh herdsmen who graze sheep, cattle, and
horses here during the summer. Yurts are scattered on the pasture, which are
home to these people. Visitors can visit a local family. The Kazak people are
hospitable and generous. They usually invite their guests to share a meal of
roasted lamb, milk and their traditional food: hand-picked rice.
West White Poplar Gully (Baiyanggou) is an attractive place in the Southern
Pasture. You can ride a horse slowly in the valley to enjoy the stunning view
around.
Southern Mosque
Located near the south gate of Urumqi, it got its name as Southern
Mosque. Repaired in 1902 and 1987, it is a leading mosque in Urumqi city.
Embraced by four minarets, the vaulted mosque, grand and imposing,
expresses the elegant characters of Islamic architecture. The main body of the
mosque, taking the shape of a tower, consists of four stories, two underground
and two above. The stories underground are shops and living area of Moslems
while the two overground used as prayer hall and seminary. Two walls of the
passageway leading to the prayer hall are decorated with carved orchids, plums,
bamboo and lotuses. The compound also includes a bathroom before prayers.
Dining
Urumqi is a pleasant place to try Uygur food like kebab (BBQ of local
style), Nang, roast stuffed buns, noodles and hand-picked rices. Due to Muslims
religious belief, most of the local people prefer to take chicken, beef and
mutton, instead of pork and sea food. Local noodles are prepared with spicy
vegetables, beef or lamb.
The popular food streets in the city are Xingfu Road, Hongshan Road,
Wenhuagong Road, Mianhuajie Street and Guoshixiang Lane.
Shopping
Fruits and Melons
Xinjiang is not only recognized as being a station on the Silk Road, but is
also known as the Home of Fruits and Melons Changes in temperature from
morning to evening, long hours of sunshine and careful irrigation all work
together to give the fruits of Xingjian bright color and sweet pulp. There are
hundreds of species of grapes, muskmelons, watermelons, apples, pears, apricots,
peaches, pomegranates, cherries, figs, and walnuts, and large quantities of
fruits and melons are transported to other parts of the country and abroad. To
buy fruits and melons, you can simply go to the supermarkets or you can choose
to go to a local agriculture market. The most famous market is the Bei Yuan Chun
Market in No.7 Kelamayi Xi Lu where you can find the largest variety of fruits
and other agriculture products and experience the warmth of the culture.
Carpet
Xinjiang Carpets and Rugs are famous for their exquisite craftsmanship and
brilliant artistic style. The design and color vividly reflect both national and
regional features. They are all woven manually by the Uygur people, and are
generally made of wool.
Atlas Silk
Atlas is a kind of silk fabric with fine intricate patterns that Uygur
women like very much, and is renowned for its multiple and resplendent colors.
Usually the colors include sharp contrasts such as viridis, sapphire, indigo,
yellow, peach, orange, gold, mauve, black, white, etc. The patterns are
well-knit and lifelike, representing the light and color of nature. Atlas silk
is soft, flexible, beautiful in patterns and excellent in quality. It is used by
the local people not only for costuming but also as an interior ornament.
Handicrafts
Full of rich history and unique ethnic character, folk handicrafts have a
high place in todays exports of Xinjiang and can be found in the ethnic market.
The Uygur-style hats, knitted sweaters, ethnic costumes, hand-made embroideries,
jade carvings and carpets are all popular souvenirs bought by visitors.
Where to Buy
As the economic center, Urumqi plays a leading role in the autonomous
region. During recent years, big shopping centers, department stores and
supermarkets have started springing up all over the city. These large stores
bring great convenience to the public as well as speed up the economic growth of
the city.
To experience the life of the minority region, The International Grand
Bazaar in Er Dao Qiao is an essential place to visit. It is a magnificent
commercial architectural complex embodied with a strong flavor of Islam. It
consists of a Banquet Hall, Gourmet Square, Sightseeing Tower, Open-air Stage
and Islam Mosque, and encompasses a total space of 100,000 square meters. The
Bazaar furnishes different kinds of goods made in Xinjiang as well as other
neighboring countries, and offers all the ethnic food and souvenirs you would
anticipate. Sometimes pleasant negotiation with venders is required.
Like any other big city in China, the downtown streets in Urumqi are lined
with multi-story buildings including department stores and shopping malls. The
following information is for your reference