Urumqi, formerly known as Dihua, is the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and is situated in the central part of Xinjiang and at the northern foot of the middle section of the Tianshan Mountains. Urumqi is famous for being the most inland city in the world and the farthest large city from the sea and coastline (2500 km).

As a major hub on the Silk Road during China’s Tang dynasty, it developed its reputation as a leading cultural and commercial center during the Qing dynasty in the 19th century.

Urumqi comes from Mongolian, meaning “great”, a short form of the full Mongolian name meaning “great pasture”, as the Mongols were the last main power to control the area before the Qing conquest. Following the Qing conquest, the city was named “Dihua” (lit. “to enlighten and civilize”) by Emperor Qianlong, a name which stuck even though the Republic of China era. Following the communist revolution, the new People’s Republic of China government changed the name back to Urumqi in 1954, as “Dihua” was deemed too condescending to the ethnic minorities in the region.

The city has a population of around 2.5 million, and minorities account for 25% of the total. There are two major ethnic groups, 0.38 million the Uyghur and 2.3 million Han (ethnic Chinese). Other ethnic groups include Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Mongols, and Huis. Regardless of ethnicity, most people in Urumqi can speak some level of Mandarin. However, in some parts of the city Uyghur, a Turkic language, is dominant. Few people speak English, even in some of the large hotels. When taking a taxi, it is a good idea to have a piece of paper with the name of your destination written in Chinese. Most government signs are bilingual in Uyghur and Chinese, as are signs and menus in Uyghur-owned shops and restaurants.

Since the 1990s, Urumqi has gradually developed economically and has now served as an economic platform and transport center between China and Central Asia. Urumqi Diwopu International Airport is the largest airport in Xinjiang, with flights connecting many cities in Russia, Central Asia, and the Middle East, for example, Islamabad, Istanbul, Kabul, Moscow, and Tehran, as well as almost all major cities in China. If you choose to enter Xinjiang by plane, this airport is the first choice. If you choose to take the train, there are two major railway stations, Urumqi Station and Urumqi South Station, which stop all high-speed trains and ordinary trains from eastern China and other cities in Xinjiang. But it must be said that taking the train to Urumqi is a long journey. It takes 12 hours by high-speed train from Lanzhou, 31 hours by direct train from Beijing, and 39 hours by direct train from Shanghai.

Urumqi is a magical place to soak up the rich culture of Central Asia, and the Uyghur district, large mosque, Silk Road museum, and the lively market will leave a lasting impression. Most travelers pass through the provincial capital at some point in their circuit, and many are surprised by Urumqi.