Urumqi is the capital of the Xinjiang provinde - an Autonomous region inhabited by the Uyguyr people. Although it occupies one sixth of the surface of China, there are only 16 million people living here.
The sights in the city itself are spectacular. There is a nine-story Hong Ding Shan Ta pagoda with panaromic views over the city. The Xinjian Museum (lcated at132 Northwest road) lets one learn about the city's past.
Daytrips can be made to Tianshan and Lake Tianzi, 155 south on the way to Kashgar. And when you visit Lugu Lake, expect to see yurts and nomads.
A must-see is the Tianchi (Heavenly) Lake, a lake created amongst the mountain tops. It's one of those places where you have to go up (by cable car or road) to see the lake.
Since Urumqi is a border town, there are some interesting markets - there is a Russian one and a Muslim one (near the Mosque). On the Qiao market you can buy a camel or a horse for onward transport.
You can go to Urumqi by train all the way form Beijing. It is a 64 hours long, the longest train ride in China. Onward travel takes you to Kasgar by bus, or across the mountains to the Kazakhstan by train or bus.
The Hoi Tak Hotel, Xinjiang is an International Hotel with 5 star facilities. Being the farthest inland city in the world the hotel is beautifully decorated with ocean murals and fish tanks that provi... more
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