Urumqi Travel guide, travel tips of Urumqi City

Urumqi is endowed with alpine ice and snow landscapes, mountain forest landscapes and grassland landscapes, providing rich content for tourists' sightseeing and adventure. The cultural arts, customs and traditions of various ethnic groups form a unique ethnic cultural tourism landscape. As the city farthest from the ocean in the world, Urumqi has a mid-temperate continental arid climate. The hottest months are July and August, while the coldest month is January, and its average temperature is -15.2℃.

Basic Facts

English Name: Urumqi
Chinese Name: 乌鲁木齐（wū lǔ mù qí）
Government: Capital city of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
Location: Northwest of China (43°45′N - 45°00′N, 86°37′E - 88°58′E)
Area code & Zip Code:
Area Code: 0991; Zip Code: 830000
Airports：Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (URC)
Railway Stations:
Urumqi Station,Urumqi South Station,Urumqi East Station
Suburban Districts:
Midong, Tianshan, Shayibake, Xinshi, Shuimogou, Toutunhe, Dabancheng, Urumqi County
Population: about 4 million

Best Time to Visit Urumqi

May to October is the golden season for tourism in Urumqi because during this period, flowers and trees are in full bloom, and fruits and vegetables are fragrant. Urumqi is the city farthest from the ocean in the world, with a mid-temperate continental arid climate. The hottest month is July, with an average temperature of 26°C; the coldest month is January, with an average temperature of -15°C, and there is a large temperature difference between morning and evening. It is recommended to go in September, when the temperature is comfortable.

What to See

1. Tianshan Grand Canyon: The vast expanse of the Tianshan Grand Canyon Scenic Area boasts abundant tourism resources, including continuous towering mountains with steep forested slopes, holy snow-capped peaks and glaciers, mysterious virgin forests, vast valley grasslands, crisscrossing canyon rivers and rich nomadic customs. It encompasses all natural landscapes in Xinjiang except deserts.

2. Hongshan Park Scenic Area: Urumqi Hongshan Park is a natural mountain landscape park. It is named "Hongshan"(Red Mountain) because the cliff at the west end of the mountain is ochre red in color. The park seamlessly integrates natural scenery, cultural landscapes, historical heritage and recreational activities, offering visitors a comprehensive experience that combines sightseeing, fitness and entertainment.

3. Nanshan Scenic Spot: The Nanshan Scenic Spot refers to a region approximately 50 kilometers wide along the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains, south of Urumqi. It is a scenic area characterized by ice and snow, forested grasslands, unique rock formations and alpine forest-pastoral areas, integrating modern cultural landscapes.

Recommended attractions:

Tianshan Grand Canyon	Tianshan Heaven Lake	Nanshan Scenic Spot
Shuimogou Scenic Spot	Hongshan Park Scenic Area	Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar

How to Get There

At present, Urumqi has only one airport — Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (URC). Flights within Xinjiang from Urumqi Airport reach cities such as Korla, Kashgar, Hotan, Karamay, and Altay. Domestic trunk routes directly connect to major cities across China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Qingdao.

How far is Urumqi from Major Cities

Infographic-Transportation Time from Major Cities to Urumqi

Cities	Distance from Urumqi (km)	By Air to Urumqi	By High-Speed Railway to Urumqi	By Traditional Train to Urumqi
Beijing	2812	4hrs	No direct high-speed train	31.5hrs-38hrs
Shanghai	3981	5hrs	No direct high-speed train	39.5hrs
Guangzhou	4207	5hrs	No direct high-speed train	48hrs
Xining	1797	3hrs	10hrs	13.5hrs-19.5hrs
Xi'an	2527	3.5hrs	14hrs	25.5hrs-30.5hrs
Chengdu	2814	3.5hrs	No direct high-speed train	27.5hrs-35hrs
Kunming	3566	4.5hrs	No direct high-speed train	39hrs
Lanzhou	1907	3hrs	11hrs	11.5hrs-22hrs

How far is Urumqi from Other Xinjiang Cities

Cities	Distance from Urumqi (km)	By Air to Urumqi	By High-Speed Railway to Urumqi	By Traditional Train to Urumqi
Kashgar	1475	2hrs	No direct high-speed train	11.5hrs-28.5hrs
Hotan	1418	2hrs	No direct high-speed train	22.5hrs-34hrs
Aksu	1017	1.5hrs	No direct high-speed train	10hrs-13hrs
Turpan	200	No direct flights	No direct high-speed train	10hrs-13hrs
Hami	645	No direct flights	3hrs	4.5hrs-6.5hrs
Korla	482	1hr	4hrs	5hrs-7hrs
Altay	500	1hr 20mins	No direct high-speed train	7hrs-11hrs
Yi'ning	691	1.5hrs	5.5hrs	9hrs

Gourmet Food Recommendations

Xinjiang Dapanji (Big Plate Chicken) originated in the early 1990s. It is mainly made of chicken and potato cubes, cooked with noodles. Xinjiang Dapanji is colorful, with spicy chicken and soft potatoes, and it is delicious.

Grilled mutton skewers are the most distinctive foods in Xinjiang. Unlike those in other places, the mutton skewers here are roasted on a special barbecue iron trough. When making them, they are roasted over a coal fire while condiments such as refined salt, chili powder, and cumin powder are sprinkled on. The meat is delicious, and the price is very reasonable.

Hand-pulled rice (Polu) is a top-notch delicacy for locals to entertain guests. The main ingredients are rice, mutton, carrots and onions. The rice stewed with these ingredients is fragrant and delicious.

Naan is a traditional pasta loved by people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. Its outer skin is golden, crispy, and delicious. It is made of fermented dough baked in a naan pit. The round naan symbolizes beauty and prosperity. Therefore, when people eat naan wrapped with meat, they cut the naan into pieces, pour the cooked gravy on it, and share it with each other, which represents the beautiful meaning of sharing happiness.

Souvenir and Shopping

Xinjiang Handmade Carpets: Xinjiang's handmade carpets are renowned for their exquisite weaving techniques and rich cultural connotations. You can choose carpets of different styles and colors as home decorations.

Uygur Embroidered Caps: The Uygur embroidered cap is a traditional ethnic costume in Xinjiang, featuring various colorful patterns embroidered on it. It can be used as a souvenir or a gift for family and friends.

Hotan Jade: Urumqi is an important distribution center for Hotan jade. You can purchase a variety of exquisite Hotan jade ornaments such as bracelets and pendants. These jade articles are not only elegant in appearance but also have high collection value.

Urumqi Travel Guide