Urumqi lies in Xingjiang Weiwuer autonomous region. It is the capital of it. It is 11 thousand square kilometers in area. The population is 1.4 million.
Urumqi is in the southern part of Zhungeer Basin and in the northern part of Tian Mountain. The topography here mainly is hilly area and the basins in mountains. The southwestern and northeastern parts are higher than the middle part and the northwestern part. It has a dry continental climate in the mid-temperate zone. The average annual temperature is 6.2 degree Celsius and the average annual precipitation is 250mm. The black frost period can last 140 to 200 days. Urumqi abounds in coal, oil shale, the salt in Dabancheng Salt Lake and so on. There are also iron, lime plaster and gypsum. The grassland is very wide.

Its industries are machinery, chemical, electric power, petroleum processing, textile  building materials and food. They are in the important places too. In agriculture, there are wheat, corn, rape-seed cotton, meat and fruits.

Urumqi is the hub of Xinjiangs communications. The high way and railway are very convenient. Urumqi and nearly 30 cities in China are open to navigation.
In Urumqi, the national culture is very diverse. Shanxibig Temple is a famous mosque, and there are some graceful mural paintings in Da Fo Temple. In Tianshan Valley, there is Baiyang ditch, which is famous for its spring, its woods and its flowers. The traditional specialties are jade carving, jewelry, Xinjiang porcelain national hats, carpet, watermelon, raisin and apricot.

Recommended Scenic Spots

The Nan Shan Pasture Land

The Nan Shan Pasture Land is situated in the valley of the Tien Shan, about 75 kilometers to the southern suburb of Urumqi city with about two hours car driving. The Nan Shan slopes are covered with dragon spruce and mountain flowers everywhere. In the deep of the valley there is a small water-fall of 20 meters h0igh. The cryster clear brook water winds the high mountain and lofty mountain range.

The green grassland is dotted by sheep flock and train of horses. Here is a natural pasture land of beauty. The most interesting thing for tourists here is to visit the local herdsmans families of Kazakh nationality. When you come to the yurt, you are warmly welcomed by enthusiastic herdsman. Entering the room, elders are supposed to be seated on the seats of honour. When guests are all seated, the host immediately offers tea with milk and fruits.

Heaven Lake in Xingjiang

Situated in the Heavenly Mountain (Tianshan) range, 115 km (71 miles) northeast of Urumqi, Heavenly Lake (Tianchi Lake) is one of the main tourist attractions in China. Used to be known as Yaochi (Jade Lake), the lake is particularly refreshing for those arriving in Urumqi from the barren deserts elsewhere in Xinjiang or from Chinas numerous granite cities. It is hemmed in by majestic snow-crowned peaks west of Bogda Mountain and it is geologically a moraine lake 3,400 meters (1,1125 feet) long, 1,500 meters (4920 feet) wide, 1,980 meters (6494 feet) above sea level. Covered firs, pines and cypresses and white snow, it boasts a spectacular sight- reminiscent of Switzerland or the Rocky mountains but somehow with more vibrancy and color. Amidst fields of wild flowers grow morel mushrooms, while peppermint and rhubarb, while higher up the mountain are edelweiss and the rare, creamy Snow Lotus (Saussurea involucrate), which grows from rock crevices and is believed to have magical powers as medical cure.

Tourists usually spend one day, take a boat ride on the lake, ride or walk along the lake shore. The wild and tranquil scene is stunning and pristine. You can also stay in one of the many yurts owned by locals, with a mat on the floor and a bowl of milk in the morning. Buses leave daily from the bus station and the Hongshan Park in Urumqi.

Ghost Town

The "City of Demons" is another name for the "Wuerhe Wind City" (Wuerhe Fengcheng), which refers to one of the Yadan landforms. Bushes like camel thorns are growing thin in the sand hills spreading everywhere because of the lack of water. In the open ground, the table -like mountains originally formed by burnt ochre stones and gray green rocks which have been fallen into pieces after thousands of years wind and water erosion look like ancient castles and palaces with Gothic, Chinese and Egyptian styles. So this area is called "the window of the world". There are many lively shaped models such as the towering stone mushrooms, stone bamboo shoots, stone pavilions, stone columns, wide streets, narrow lanes and caves cutting down to the rocks, lively shape of birds, animals, fishes and human bodies. In summer and autumn, 7 to 8 degrees of great storms usually blow along the valley, raising the sands, whistling like ghosts and wolves. So thats the derivation of another name of the Wuerhe Wind City---the City of Monsters.

In addition, there are two places named City of Monsters. One is in the northern edge of General Qitai Gobi while the other is in the Wucai City in the north of Jimosaer.