Urumqi Travel Guide

Urumqi, meaning “beautiful pasture”, is the capital of Xinjiang and home of the Uygurs. Located at the northern foot of Tianshan Mountain, the city is the farthest from ocean also the largest in western China covering an area of 14,000 km²  (5,450 sq mi) with a population of 3.11 million. The Han and Uyghur are the major ethnic groups in Urumqi and there are also Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Mongols and Hui Muslims.

In ancient times, Urumqi was a seat of local government which collected taxes from the caravans along the northern route of the Silk Road. The city emerged in the last 200 years and nowadays, it becomes the political, economic and cultural center of the region.
 

Attractions

The Silk Road left brilliant culture to Urumqi and obviously the city has a lot others to offer for tourists. Most visitors come to see Heavenly Lake but the city has other attractions such as its lively Grand Bazaar with all the odd crafts and the fascinating mix of ethnic peoples. Red Hill made up of impressive red rocks is the symbol of Urumqi. Tianshan Mountains with snow-covered ridges and lofty ice-capped peaks is a famous tourist resort in Xinjiang. Nanshan Pasture boasts picturesque scenery with steep mountains, luxuriant grassland, herds of sheep and cattle and Kazak yurts.
              
                              Heavenly Lake                                                       Grand Bazaar

More Attractions in Urumqi: Xinjiang Silk Road Museum, Glacier No. 1 and Xinjiang Uygur Regional Museum.
 

Transportation

As the capital of Xinjiang, Urumqi is important for tourists because of its convenient transportation. It will be your starting point or terminal of air or train unless you take a long-distance bus from Tibet or Gansu. BRT bus service is an efficient way to get around the city and taxi is convenient also the safest way to get around in Urumqi. More about Urumqi Transportation>>
 

Weather

Urumqi has a semi-arid continental climate with large differences between night and day temperatures. It is very dry in Urumqi so drink a lot of water to avoid dehydration. The annual average temperature is 6.9°C (44.4°F). July is the hottest month and the daily average temperature is 23.7°C (74.7°F) while the coldest January is only of −12.6°C (9.3°F). May to October is the best time to visit Urumqi. More about Urumqi Weather>>
 

Food

Another wonderful thing about Urumqi is its food and it is an expo center of Middle Asian delicacies gathered with Uygur, Mongolian and Muslim food. Mutton takes much in local people’s diet and no place than Urumqi offers authentic Kebabs. Famous dishes and snacks include Roast Whole Lamb, Kebab, Nang, Xinjiang Noodles, Zhua Fan and Dapanji. More about Urumqi Food>>
             
                               ZhuaFan                                                            Xinjiang Kebab
 

Restaurants

Urumqi city offers a lot of choices for dining and the best choice to taste local food is go to a night market. The area near Wuyi Market (near the railway station), Friendship Night Street and Xingfu Road are famous snack streets gathered with many little restaurants and stands which provides tempting snacks. Almost every little restaurant or stand has its specialty. More about Urumqi Restaurants>>
 

Shopping

Urumqi is a fruit paradise gathered with all kinds of fruit in Xinjiang such as grape, Hami melon, fragrant pear, and fig as well as preserved fruits. Carpets and local handicrafts are also popular, such as Uygur-style hats, Atlas Silk, ethnic costumes, hand-made embroideries and jade carvings. The Grand Bazaar in Er Dao Qiao is a great place not only for local specialty items like ethnic food and souvenirs, but also has many goods from nearby countries such as Russia and Mongolia. More about Urumqi Shopping>>
 

Nightlife

Apart from the bars and clubs that you have probably seen enough back home, Xinjiang music and dance will definitely bring you something different. Hang out at the snack streets to taste local food and enjoy performances is a good way to experience the city deeply. The most unique activities in Urumqi are Horse Racing, Lamb Tussling and Girl Chase with strong ethnic flavors which can be appreciated at Nanshan Pasture. More about Urumqi Nightlife>>
 

Recommended Itinerary

6 Days Urumqi, Kashgar Classic Tour

7 Days Urumqi, Turpan and Lake Kanas Tour

11 Days Silk Road Classic Tour Package (A)

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