Urumqi Travel Guide - Brief Information on Urumqi

Urumqi is the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (also called Xinjiang for short, and it accounts for about one-sixth of China's total territory. It is the center of political, economic, cultural and scientific affairs. It is located in the northern area of Xinjiang, on the banks of the Urumqi River at the northern foot of the middle Tianshan Mountain, and in the Southern-fringe of Junggar Basin. It is situated in the geographical center of Asia, and is a city of great importance, being the gateway of China's program of opening-up to the .For more than 2,000 many different minority groups have grazed sheep and cattle on the pastures surrounding Urumqi.  Among the 12 capital cities in Western China, Urumqi has the moniker of 'Brilliant Pearl of Western China.”

Urumqi boasts many unique cultural flavours.  Historically, Urumqi was an important town along the new north road of the ancient Silk Road, and was the center of the economic and cultural exchange between the East and the West; moreover, it was the confluence of cultural convergence between East and West, and remains one of the main hubs of Central Asia.  Its culture is characterised by diversity. The principal characteristics of the region are openness, enthusiasm, and indomitable spirit.  Urumqi is home to around 50 different nationalities, among them Han, Uygur, Kazakh, Hui and Mongol, The culture and arts,  flavor and customs of each nationality has formed a unique cultural landscape, rich for cultivation in today's tourist-hungry environment. Foreign tourists are greatly attracted by the unique costumes and the national cultural activities such as horse racing, grabbing sheep, Darwaz performance, the singing and melody of Arken and so on. Tourists are also charmed by the warm hospitality of the many different minority nationalities that make up such a colourful cultural mosaic. Urumqi Airport is one of the five air gates of China and is the center of transportation in north-western China. There are now about 100 international, regional and domestic air routes. Urumqi Railway Station is the terminal of Xinjiang Railway, and is the passenger cargo center of both North-western China and Central Asia.  Highways and urban roads proliferate in all directions and form the backbone of the transportation network connecting domestic and foreign routes, and running from the north to the south. Urumqi is fully connected with 21st century communications, and is a thoroughly modern and three-dimensional Silk Road.