Happy TravellerWelcome to Ürümqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the far northwest of the People’s Republic of China. This city, also spelled Urumqi or Urumchi, is a leading cultural and commercial center that has seen significant economic development since the 1990s. With a census population of 4 million in 2020, Ürümqi is the second-largest city in China’s northwestern interior after Xian as well as the largest in Central Asia in terms of population. According to the Guinness Book of Records, Ürümqi is the most remote city from any sea in the world.
Ürümqi has a rich history that dates back to the 7th century CE, when the Jushi Kingdom was established by a nomadic people who lived on the northern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains. The city was established near Urabo by the Tang government during the 22nd year of Emperor Taizong’s reign (648 AD), as part of the Protectorate General to Pacify the West that controlled Xinjiang. It was a seat of local government and collected taxes from the caravans along the northern route of the Silk Road.
During the Dzungar period, the Oirat-speaking Dzungar tribes that formed the Dzungar Khanate were the last major power to control Ürümqi before the Manchus gained control of Xinjiang. The Qing dynasty took Ürümqi by force in 1755, during its conquest of the Dzungar Khanate. Qing forces expanded the town into a walled city from 1763 to 1767. Upon completing the expansion, the Qing renamed the city Dihua, which literally means to enlighten and civilize.
In the late 1970s, Deng Xiaoping relaxed China’s tight control over Xinjiang, and Ürümqi benefited from the development of the oil and gas industry in Xinjiang. New mosques were built in Ürümqi with financial assistance from the Chinese government. While the Chinese government implemented strict rules on religion in southern Xinjiang, the treatment of the Uyghurs and their religion in Ürümqi were more lax and permissive.
Ürümqi is a city of contrasts, where ancient traditions meet modernity. The city is home to many historical and cultural landmarks, such as the Red Temple, a temple with red walls dedicated to Guandi on Pingding mountain overlooking Ürümqi. The city is also home to Xinjiang University, a comprehensive university with the highest academic level in Xinjiang, under the Project 211 and the Double First Class University Plan.
Ürümqi’s location in the heart of Central Asia makes it a hub for trade and commerce. The city is one of the top 500 cities in the world by scientific research output, as tracked by the Nature Index. Ürümqi is also a regional transport node and a cultural, political, and commercial center.
The city’s climate is a continental cold semi-arid climate, with very large differences between summer and winter. It has warm summers, with a July daily average of 24.2 °C (75.6 °F), and very cold winters, with a January daily average of −12.2 °C (10.0 °F). The annual average temperature is 7.8 °C (46.0 °F).
In conclusion, Ürümqi
