About Urumqi
What to see and do in Urumqi
Weather in Urumqi
Airport in Urumqi
Visa
Urumchi, sometimes spelled Wulumuqi (pinyin: Wulumuqi) is the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, in the northwest of the country.
Urumqi is quite famous for its claim that it is the most inland city in the world, that being the furthest from any ocean. Most people in Urumqi can speak some level of Mandarin Chinese. If you want to understand people, or try and speak a little bit, please check out Wikitravel's Chinese phrasebook. There are two major ethnic groups, the Han Chinese and the Uyghur, who can mostly speak Mandarin, albeit possibly with an accent, and Uyghur, a Turkic language. Wikitravel also has a Uyghur phrasebook under construction. Other ethnic groups in Urumqi include Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Mongols and Hui Muslims.
If you don't speak Mandarin or Uyghur, you may have difficulties in Urumqi. Few people speak English, even in some of the large hotels. When taking a taxi, it's a good idea to be armed with a piece of paper with the name of your destination written in Mandarin. Accordingly, some place names on this page have Mandarin translations.
The International Grand Bazaar of Xinjiang is an Islamic bazaar located on Jiefang Nan Road. It is one of the most attractive tour sites in Xinjiang and Urumqi.
Hong Shan Mountain is the symbolic scenic spot of Urumqi, located in the Hong Shan Park.
Glacier No.1, origin of Urumqi River, is the largest glacier located near a city in China.
People's Square
Nanhu Square
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum
Shuimugou Hot Springs is located 5km northeast of Urumqi.
Xinjiang Silk Road Museum is located right next to the Grand Bazaar at No.160 Shengli Road. Bus No.110 stops very close to it. It is located on the fifth and sixth floor of a very large European style building which houses a shopping complex as well. The admission charge is RMB 30 per person. Most of the exhibits have English names as well and some of their guides speak some English.
Erdaoqiao Market is a place you can see lots of local goods produced by the minorities. The booth owners are all dressed in Uighur costumes. Some times they do not sell anything to tourists but just invite tourists to dance
Get around
On Foot or Taxi
The city centre's only a mile or two in length, so can be walked easily. Although
in Summer it gets very hot and in Winter it can drop to -35 degrees C at night:
So the many taxis might come in useful. Metered taxi fares start at RMB 6.
There are also "black taxis", usually driven by Uyghur men. Fares for these are
negotiable and they definitely come in handy during rush hour when metered taxis
are tough to come by. Regardless, you should never pay more than RMB 20
for a ride within the city.
Bus
Bus number 52 goes from the round about near the airport to the museum.
Other useful routes running generally north-south are 101, 61 and 63.
Bus route information is also available on Google Maps
The Grand Bazaar is a great place not only for regional specialty items, but also has many goods from nearby countries such as Russia and Mongolia. It is a popular tourist destination although somewhat of a tourist trap these days. However, the surrounding area is the heart of the Uyghur community and makes visiting worthwhile.
Imported delicacies can be found at the You Hao supermarket in the basement of the Tian Shan Shopping Center, located across from the People's Square.
A number of stores selling outdoor gear, camping supplies etc. can be found on Renmin Lu, east of Nan Men.
Hua Lin is a huge trade complex selling almost anything you can think of Shang Mao Cheng is a similar huge bazaar in the south of the city.
In all most Islamic cultures, naan (bread), is very important. It is not a good idea to throw it away. If you drop it, pick it up and carry it with you. Do not step on naan--It is important to treat it with some respect. Also, if you decide to eat naan while walking, break off a piece, and eat that. Do not bite into the whole loaf.
Tianshan Tianchi National Park - scenic with prismatic splendor. Tickets are approximately RMB 100.
Nan Shan - Picturesque mountains south of Urumqi. In summer the valleys are populated with Kazakh Yurts, which accept travellers for RMB 50 - RMB 100 per night including food. Excellent for hiking and horseback riding. Cheap buses (RMB 8 - RMB 25) leave for the area throughout the day from the bus station south of People's Park (Renmin Gongyuan). Particularly recommended is Juhua Tai (chysanthemum terrace), with plenty of food and sleeping options along with mountain pastures filled with alpine flowers.
Number One Glacier - Located in the far south of Nan Shan is this fast disappearing glacier, the first in China to be thoroughly researched. The area is located in the higher peaks in the Nan Shan range (over 14,000 ft)and boasts spectacular views along with few tourists. The glacier can be reached after first taking the Nan Shan bus to Hou Xia (RMB 12.6), and then finding a driver in the town to take you to the glacier(RMB 150 - RMB 200 one way, about an hour). Several kilometers from the glacier are Kazakh families that rent their yurts to tourists for RMB 20. Polo (fried rice), bread, kebabs and tea are also available for about RMB 15 or so. Coming back, you should be able to hitch a ride for free with trucks returning to town from a nearby mine.
Heart of Asia Monument - South of Urumqi is a monument supposedly marking the center of the Eurasian landmass, underscoring just how far from the ocean you really are.
The best period for visiting Urumqi is from May to October when flowers are in full bloom and the melons and fruits smell sweet and are ripe for the picking. Dress warmly even when traveling in the hottest month (July and August) for the temperature differences between morning and night. Be sure to bring a sweater and trench coat in May, June, September and October. During the cold winter (November to March), you will need heavy winter wear.
Detailed information about the Average, Maximun and Minimum Temperatures and the rainfall in Urumqi.
January -10 C to -20 C
February -7 C to -17 C
March 2 C to -7 C
April 15 C to 4 C
May 22 C to 10 C
June 27 C to 15 C
July 30 C to 17 C
August 28 C to 16 C
September 22 C to 10 C
October 13 C to 2 C
November 1 C to 2 C
December -7 C to -17 C
'r'mqi Diwopu International Airport (IATA: URC, ICAO: ZWWW) (pinyin: WulumuqiiD'wopu Guoj' Jichang) is located in Diwopu, a suburb north-west of 'r'mqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwestern China. The airport is 16 km away from downtown 'r'mqi. It is a focus city for China Southern Airlines and Hainan Airlines.
Urumqi International Airport. Airport Code: URC
Location: lying in Diwopu, about 16 kilometers northwest of the downtown
area of Urumqi City.
Brief Intro: Urumqi International Airport is one of the most important airports in western China. It is a passageway connecting China and Middle Asia, West Asia, Europe and Africa. If given a bird's eye view of the entire construction, it resembles an elegant flying swan. The buildings consist of an International Waiting Hall, a National Waiting Hall and two VIP Lounges. Restaurants, shops, broadcast center and information counters within the airport offer you many conveniences.
There are altogether 11 parking aprons, covering an area of 45,651 square meters (about 11.3 acres), which can admit the landing of more than 30 aircrafts at the same time. Now some 115 airlines are available to cover 60 domestic and international cities.
Every week, over 700 flights leave here for 53 destination cities in China,
such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Chengdu, Lanzhou, Dunhuang, Harbin, Guangzhou and Qingdao, etc. as well as 14 foreign destinations including Tashkent, Novosibirsk, Moscow, Islamabad, Almaty and Bishkek. You can book flight tickets at most high-rated hotels in Urumqi.
Facilities
Shopping area and restaurants: Stores, restaurants and cafes can be found
in restricted and commercial areas of the Waiting Building.
Business center: Situated beside the escalator in the Arrivals Hall on 1 F, the business center can provide (you) copy, mimeograph and fax service.
Service
Now Urumqi International Airport has been approved to conduct port visa
business. This means that foreigners who urgently require coming to Xinjiang
can obtain their visas at Urumqi International Airport. They must satisfy the
requirements to enter China, along with an invitation letter to come to China
and related materials. If they hold this kind of visa, they can also leave the
country through any port of entry within China's borders.
Airport Inquiring: (0991) 3801453 3802695 Hongshan (Red Hill) Ticket Office: No.62, Youhao Nan Lu Beimen Ticket Office: No.2, Xinmin Lu
Airport Transportation
The airport shuttle bus special line is convenient for traveling between the
airport and the downtown area. Tourists can buy the ticket in the hall of
Kempinski Hotel in Urumqi. The shuttle bus departure station in the city is
Kempinski Hotel. It takes only about half an hour from Kempinski Hotel
directly to the airport; the ticket price of a single trip is RMB 10 per person.
The returning trip from the airport to the downtown passing Xinjiang Medical College,
Red Hill, Xinjiang Restaurant and the terminal station is Xinjiang Railway Station.
The working time of the shuttle bus in summer is between 06:30 and 08:00 departing from Kempinski Hotel once every half hour and between 08:00 and 23:00 departing hourly on the hour. In winter the time schedule is between 07:30 and 09:00 departing from Kempinski Hotel once every half hour and between 09:00 and 22:00 departing hourly on the hour. Also public bus No.51, No.27 (RMB 1 per person) can take passengers from the airport to the downtown area.
Facilities
The airport covers an area of 4.84 million sq. metres. Its newly built runway is
3600 m (11,811 ft) in length. The airport can allow the landing of large aircraft such
as the Boeing 747. The 110,000 sq. metre apron can accommodate over 30 aircraft.
Terminal 3, Usage
In 2002, 1,673,400 passengers and 35,000 tons of goods passed through Urumqi Airport.
Summer 2005 saw Diwopu get a boost when the airport started receiving major foreign airlines for the first time; of them Korean Air was the first to start service from Seoul seasonally in June; two months later, Pakistan International Airlines began operations from Islamabad flying year round scheduled. Both airlines used wide body Airbus aircraft. PIA's operation did not last long and was suspended in April 2006.
Airlines and other destinations of Urumqi
Domestic
Air China (Beijing-Capital, Chengdu, Jinan, Lanzhou)
China Eastern Airlines (Kunming, Lanzhou, Nanjing, Shanghai-Hongqiao, Xi'an)
China Southern Airlines (Aksu, Altay, Beijing-Capital, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Hohhot, Hotan, Karamay, Kashi, Korla, Kunming, Kuqa, Lanzhou, Qingdao, Shanghai-Hongqiao, Shenzhen, Shijiazhuang, Xiamen, Xi'an, Xining, Yinchuan, Yining, Zhengzhou)
Hainan Airlines (Beijing-Capital, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Kashi, Kunming, Sanya, Xi'an)
China United Airlines (Beijing-Nanyuan)
Shandong Airlines (Yinchuan)
Shanghai Airlines (Shanghai-Hongqiao)
Shenzhen Airlines (Shenyang, Shenzhen, Xi'an, Zhengzhou)
Sichuan Airlines (Chengdu, Chongqing)
Spring Airlines (Shanghai-Hongqiao)
International
Air Astana (Astana)
Air China (Karachi) [ends March 2009]
Ariana Afghan Airlines (Kabul)
Azerbaijan Airlines (Baku)
China Southern Airlines (Almaty, Ashkhabad, Baku, Bishkek, Dushanbe, Irkutsk, Islamabad, Jeddah, Khabarovsk, Moscow-Sheremetyevo [suspended from 23 March to 30 April], Novosibirsk, Osh, Sharjah, Tashkent, Tehran-Imam Khomeini)
Dalavia (Khabarovsk)
Dragonair (Hong Kong) seasonal charter
Hainan Airlines (Astana)
Itek Air (Bishkek)
Korean Air (Seoul-Incheon) seasonal
S7 Airlines (Novosibirsk)
Somon Air (Dushanbe)
Tajik Air (Dushanbe)
Uzbekistan Airways (Fergana, Tashkent)
To be able to travel to Urumqi you need to have a valid China Visa, issue from your local government at the China Embassy, Chinese visa fall into four types: diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, service visa and ordinary visa. Ordinary visa is further divided into the following 8 categories each marked with a letter: (1) Tourist and family visit visa (L-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for tourist purpose, family visit or other personal affairs.
(2) Business Visa (F-visa ) is issued to a foreign citizen who is invited to China for visit, research, lecture, business, exchanges in the fields of science, technology, education, culture and sports, or attending various kinds of trade fairs or exhibitions, or short-term study, intern practice for a period of no more than 6 months.
(3) Student Visa (X-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for the purpose of study or advanced study for a period of six or more months.
(4) Work Visa (Z-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China to work and his or her accompanying family members, or to give commercial performances in China.
(5) Transit Visa (G-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who is to transit through China on his or her way to a third country (or region).
(6) Crew Visa(C-visa)is issued to crew member performing his/her duties on board an international train, or on an international airliner, to a sailor on board an international ocean-liner or freighter, and also to their accompanying family members..
(7) Journalist Visa (J-visa)is issued to foreign journalists. J-visa has two categories: J-1 visa and J-2 visa. J-1 visa is issued to resident foreign journalists in China and their accompanying spouses and under-age children, J-2 visa to foreign journalists who visit China for temporary news coverage.
(8) Permanent Residence Visa(D-visa)is issued to a foreign citizen who has been approved by China's public security authority to reside in China permanently.
for Language guide please refer to: http://www.china-city-guide.com/beijing/pages/localguide.php for free download of basic survival Chinese conversation in China.