Urumqi is the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The city lies west of Bogda Mountain(part of the Tianshan Range) and at the southeastern edge of Junggar Basin.

Urumqi? means "A beautiful Pasture land " in ancient Mongolian used by the Junggar tribe, 2000 years ago it was once an important town on the new northern route of the Silk Road, which made important contribution in promoting Sino-foreign economic & cultural exchanges. During the 22nd year of the Zhenguan's reign in the Tang Dynasty, 648 A.D., the Tang government set up the town of? Luntai in the ancient town seat of Urabo, which is 10 kilometers away from the southern suburb of Urumqi nowadays. The Ancient Luntai Town, which played quit significant? a role on the new northern route of Silk Road in the Tang Dynasty, was the only town of tax collection, the only town of management, the town of supply and the first town as well. In the time of Qing Dynasty (A.D.1763) , the emperor Qian Long named the expanded city as "Dihua". UP to A.D.1884, another emperor Guang Xu put up Xinjiang as a Province and the Di Hua city as the capital of Xinjiang. After the founding of the people's Republic of China, by Feb.1,1954, the city name was restored to its original meaning, i.e., Urumqi.

Urumqi has one county and seven districts under her jurisdiction. Such as Urumqi county, Tianshan District, Sharyibark District, Toutunhe District, Shuimogou District, Xinshi District, Dongshan District, Nanshan Mine District.

Although forbidding in winter, Urumqi's climate is pleasant during the summer, with warm days and cool evenings. An extensive series of tree belts planted around the capital has helped to reduce wind, dust, and cold.

Urumqi is a city where multiethnic groups of people live in compact of mixed communities. They are the Uygur, Han, Hui, Kazak, Mongolian, Kirgiz, Xibe, totally over 40 ethnic groups of people. The city's uniqueness, the strong colorful ethnic life styles and local customs are quite attractive to visitors. From architectural complex to family courtyards, from furniture to utensils, from food to clothing, from etiquette of the young to rituals of the old, from marriage customs to funeral rites, at all times and on all occasions, one senses a strong unique ethnicity.