Urumqi (乌鲁木齐)

Attractions in Urumqi

Visit the Xinjiang Regional Museum, Hongshan Park, Tianchi (Heavenly Lake) of Tianshan, Xinjiang Grand Bazaar, and the Water Park.

Popular Routes

Day 1: Xinjiang Regional Museum and Grand Bazaar.
Day 2: Day trip to Tianchi (Heavenly Lake).

Food & Dining

Try Uyghur pilaf, lamb kebabs, hand-pulled noodles, naan bread, yogurt, and Xinjiang melons.

Shopping

Buy dried fruits, nuts, carpets, Uyghur crafts, and Xinjiang jade at the Grand Bazaar. Main shopping is on Jiefang Road and Wanda Plaza.

Local Vibe & Fun Facts

Local Vibe: Urumqi is the farthest major city from the sea, a Central Asian frontier town that became a big city. Locals are a mix of Han, Uyghur, Kazakh, and Hui, and the food scene is heavy on lamb, naan, and pilaf. It's gritty, sunny, and proud of its Silk Road heritage.

Fun Facts:

• Urumqi is the capital of Xinjiang and one of the cities farthest from any ocean in the world.

• The Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar is one of the largest bazaars in the world, blending Central Asian and Chinese commerce.

• The city sits on the ancient Silk Road, and Uyghur, Kazakh, and Han cultures have mixed here for centuries.

Speak Like a Local

Urumqi locals speak their own flavor of Mandarin. Try these phrases to earn a smile:

Yaxshimusiz (Uyghur) — Hello — the polite Uyghur greeting.

Rahmat — Thank you — useful in bazaars and restaurants.

Nahayati yaxshi — Very good — a handy compliment.

Famous People

• Amannisa Khan — A legendary 16th-century Uyghur musician and poet who compiled the Twelve Muqam, a masterpiece of Uyghur classical music.

• Mahmut Kashgari — An 11th-century Turkic scholar from Xinjiang who wrote the first comprehensive dictionary of Turkic languages.

• Aihemaiti — A modern Uyghur singer from Xinjiang whose music became popular across China.