Urumqi Travel Guide – An Ultimate Guide to Plan a Trip to Urumqi
Urumqi is the capital city as well as the largest city of Xinjiang, featuring rich historical heritage, diverse geographical terrain, and unique modern cityscape. It is often complimented as the “Pearl of the Silk Road”, and serves as a key gateway for visitors traveling to Xinjiang.
As a vibrant cosmopolitan city at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, Urumqi in Xinjiang has never stopped attracting travelers with its unique charm, diversity, and extraordinary grandeur. This multiethnic city has a population of over 4.08 million, including 56 ethnic groups, such as Han, Uygur, Kazakh, Hui, and Mongol.
The city’s Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar offers a great glimpse into local colorful cultures and a vibrant exotic atmosphere, showcasing a variety of ethnic handicrafts, carpets, silk, souvenirs, and many local delicacies.
Many people travel to Urumqi also for the picturesque Heavenly Lake in the Tianshan Mountains, which is a natural symbol of the city.
Our Urumqi Travel Guide is to help you experience a delightful and smooth tour. Keep reading, all you need to know to plan a Urumqi tour is here, including the best attractions, top things to do, best time to visit, accommodation and transport tips, etc.
As a vibrant cosmopolitan city at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, Urumqi in Xinjiang has never stopped attracting travelers with its unique charm, diversity, and extraordinary grandeur. This multiethnic city has a population of over 4.08 million, including 56 ethnic groups, such as Han, Uygur, Kazakh, Hui, and Mongol.
The city’s Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar offers a great glimpse into local colorful cultures and a vibrant exotic atmosphere, showcasing a variety of ethnic handicrafts, carpets, silk, souvenirs, and many local delicacies.
Many people travel to Urumqi also for the picturesque Heavenly Lake in the Tianshan Mountains, which is a natural symbol of the city.
Our Urumqi Travel Guide is to help you experience a delightful and smooth tour. Keep reading, all you need to know to plan a Urumqi tour is here, including the best attractions, top things to do, best time to visit, accommodation and transport tips, etc.
Location: In the central part of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China; at the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains and the southern edge of the Junggar Basin.
Chinese Name: 乌鲁木齐(wū lǔ mù qí)
Area: 13,800 square kilometers
Population: 4.08 million
Airport: Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (IATA：
URC，ICAO：ZWWW)
Chinese Name: 乌鲁木齐(wū lǔ mù qí)
Area: 13,800 square kilometers
Population: 4.08 million
Airport: Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (IATA：
URC，ICAO：ZWWW)
Why Visit Urumqi
- Cultural diversity: Home to Han, Uygur, Kazakh, and many other ethnic groups, Urumqi is one of the most “multicultural” cities in China. A visit to Urumqi allows visitors to experience the colorful cultures, traditional arts, cuisine, music, and life of various ethnic groups.
- Beautiful natural wonders: The city lies at the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains, and is endowed with breathtaking Heavenly Lake and vast Nanshan Pastures.
- Gateway to Xinjiang: It is the transportation hub of Xinjiang, boasting the highest number of flights and train routes. Most visitors arrive in Xinjiang from Urumqi. Trains and flights between Urumqi and other parts of Xinjiang are also frequent.
- Diverse food scene: The city is where you can find dishes of different ethnic groups and gain a glimpse into their unique food culture.
Top Tourist Attractions & Things to Do in Urumqi
A popular destination for a China Silk Road tour, Urumqi is special for its unique geographical location, rich natural landscapes, rich historical heritage, and exotic cultural touch. The following attractions in Urumqi allow you to explore its best historical, cultural, and natural highlights.
Heavenly Lake of Tianshan Mountains (Tianshan Tianchi)A stunning lake nestled among snow-capped mountains, the Heavenly Lake on the northern slope of Tianshan Mountains is known for its reflection of the Bogda Peak and other snow mountains and lush pine forests.
Xinjiang Regional MuseumDon’t miss the museum if you want to look into the history and diverse ethnic culture of Xinjiang. The museum is home to a vast range of cultural relics, including clothing, murals, silk, and pottery. The best highlights here are many well-preserved mummies from over 1500-3000 years ago.
Nanshan PastureThis expansive highland meadow is a great place for camping, picnicking, and getting close to the life of local Kazakh and other nomadic people. It is especially stunning in the spring and summer when the verdant grasslands are dotted with blooming flowers.
Xinjiang International Grand BazaarA shopping paradise in Xinjiang, this large market is the best place to experience local bazaar culture. Here, visitors can find various handmade crafts, souvenirs, tea, and carpets of diverse ethnic groups and taste authentic Xinjiang food and specialties.
Hongshan parkThe park is on the Red Hill in downtown Urumqi, whose lush vegetation offers a green retreat for visitors. From the summit of the Red Hill, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the city and the Tianshan Mountains. It is home to several historical landmarks.
Urumqi Weather and Best Time to Visit
Urumqi is located in the heart of the Eurasian continent, making it the city farthest from any ocean in the world. This geographic positioning gives Urumqi a typical temperate continental arid climate, featuring significant diurnal and seasonal variations in temperature, dry air, little rainfall, and long sunshine hours. The annual average precipitation is only about 200 millimeters.
Generally, Urumqi’s weather is characterized by long summers (late June to mid-August), and winters (November to mid-March), and brief but pleasant transitional seasons of spring (late March to early June) and autumn (late August to October).
The city’s average annual temperature often hovers around 7°C, with summer temperatures averaging 25-30°C and winter temperatures averaging -15°C.
Periods between May and October are often considered the best times to visit Urumqi, striking a balance between comfortable weather, abundant sunshine, and stunning natural beauty.
Winter is also a great time to travel to Urumqi for skiing enthusiasts, as the city is near to the Silk Road International Ski Resort.
Generally, Urumqi’s weather is characterized by long summers (late June to mid-August), and winters (November to mid-March), and brief but pleasant transitional seasons of spring (late March to early June) and autumn (late August to October).
The city’s average annual temperature often hovers around 7°C, with summer temperatures averaging 25-30°C and winter temperatures averaging -15°C.
Periods between May and October are often considered the best times to visit Urumqi, striking a balance between comfortable weather, abundant sunshine, and stunning natural beauty.
Winter is also a great time to travel to Urumqi for skiing enthusiasts, as the city is near to the Silk Road International Ski Resort.
Hotels in Urumqi: Where to Stay
The largest and most modern city in Xinjiang, Urumqi offers thousands of accommodation options, from 4- and 5-star luxury hotels to chain hotels and boutique guesthouses. If you’re looking to make the most of your Urumqi trip and have a convenient accommodation experience, we recommend choosing hotels in the city center. This area is near most sights of the city and offers abundant dining options and convenient transportation.
To be specific, the Yaohao Road is one of the most bustling commercial districts in the city and is near Xinjiang Regional Museum. The South Gate area, the old city center, is close to the Grand Bazaar and Hongshan Park, offering rich ethnic minority culture. The area around the High-Speed Rail Station is only a 20-minute drive from the airport and offers diverse shopping and dining experiences. You can choose hotels in certain areas based on your demands and preferences.
To be specific, the Yaohao Road is one of the most bustling commercial districts in the city and is near Xinjiang Regional Museum. The South Gate area, the old city center, is close to the Grand Bazaar and Hongshan Park, offering rich ethnic minority culture. The area around the High-Speed Rail Station is only a 20-minute drive from the airport and offers diverse shopping and dining experiences. You can choose hotels in certain areas based on your demands and preferences.
Urumqi Transportation: How to Get to and Travel around
How to Get to Urumqi
Most visitors start their Xinjiang tours from Urumqi as the city is served by Urumqi Diwopu International Airport, a key air hub in western Xinjiang which is about 20 kilometers from the city center. The airport offers direct flights to numerous domestic and international cities. If you have arrived in China, you can fly to Urumqi from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xian, Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Hangzhou, etc. Frequent flights are also availabe to reach other parts of Xinjiang, including Kashgar, Hotan, Yining, Kuche, etc.
Internationally, the airport also offers many flights to cities and regions in Central Asia, West Asia, and Europe, including Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul, Sharjah and Dubai.
After the introduction of the Lanzhou-Urumqi high-speed railway, getting to Urumqi by high-speed train from other cities along the Silk Road is also efficient and comfortable. The train ride takes no more than 1 hour from Turpan, around 6 hours from Jiayuguan, and around 8 hours from Zhangye.
Internationally, the airport also offers many flights to cities and regions in Central Asia, West Asia, and Europe, including Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul, Sharjah and Dubai.
After the introduction of the Lanzhou-Urumqi high-speed railway, getting to Urumqi by high-speed train from other cities along the Silk Road is also efficient and comfortable. The train ride takes no more than 1 hour from Turpan, around 6 hours from Jiayuguan, and around 8 hours from Zhangye.
How to Travel around Urumqi
The main options for traveling around Urumqi are the metro, bus, and taxi. Metro Line 1 can transfer visitors from Diwopu Airport to the city center in about half an hour, and the line also connects the International Bazaar and other main attractions in the city area.
The bus in the city costs CNY 1 per ride and provides a comfortable way to reach major attractions.
The Heavenly Lake is about 1 hour’s drive from the city center, and it is recommended to take a tourist bus or taxi to reach the sight.
The bus in the city costs CNY 1 per ride and provides a comfortable way to reach major attractions.
The Heavenly Lake is about 1 hour’s drive from the city center, and it is recommended to take a tourist bus or taxi to reach the sight.
Best Xinjiang Tours including Urumqi
4 Days Urumqi Leisure Tour of Xinjiang with Heavenly LakeXinjiang International Bazaar, Xinjiang Regional Museum, Heavenly Lake
5 Days Extended Urumqi Tour in Xinjiang with SkiingXinjiang Museum, Xinjiang International Bazaar, Heavenly Lake, Flaming Hill, Karez System, Jiaohe Ruins, Silk Road International Holiday Resort, etc.
8 Days Southern Xinjiang Tour to Urumqi, Turpan, KashgarHeavenly Lake, Erdaoqiao International Bazaar, Xinjiang Museum, Tuyoq Valley, Grape Valley, Karez Wells, Jiaohe Ruins, Id Kah Mosque, Kashgar Old Town, etc.
