Urumqi Introduction

Urumqi (also called Wulumuqi in chinese ) is the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and in the northwest of the China.

Urumqi ocated in a green oasis between the lofty ice-capped Boghda Peak, the vast Salt Lake in the east, the rolling pine-covered Southern hill and the alternating fields and sand dunes of Zunggar ( Gunggar ) Basin in the northwest, Urumqi has an average elevation of 800 meters.

Total are of Urumqi is 10,989 km² with the population of 2,681,834 , Coordinates: 43°48′N, 87°35′E .

There are 44 ethnic groups in Urumqi among which Hen ( Chinese ) Uyghur , Kazak , Kergiz , Russian, Uzbek ,Mongle , Chinese Muslem ( Hui nationality ) , Dawur , Xibo , Tajik ,Tatar are the main ethnic groups . Because of most of the main ethnic group follows Islam so you can find Muslem style buildings and Mosque in Urumqi .

In Urumqi a continental steppe climate with hot and dry summers prevails with average temperatures in July at 24′C as well as damp and cold winters with average temperatures in January at -16′C . The annual average temperature amounts to 5.4′C , and the yearly precipitation is about 273 mm.

History

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-fore- ign 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 su- burb 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 Lon- g 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. Af- ter the founding of the People’s Republic of China, by Feb. 1, 1954, the city name was restored to its original meaning e.g.Urumqi.

Urumqi has one county and seven districts under her jurisdiction. Such as Urumqi county, Tianshan District, Saryibak District,Toutunhe District, Shimogo (Shuimogou) District, New City Area ( Xinshi ) District, Dongshan District and Nanshan Mine District.

Time zone : There is two hours time difference from China Standard Time (UTC+8) , UTC+6 in Whole Xinjiang area . Sun rise two hours later and sunset two hours later then Beijing , but usually flight and train timetables are all follows Beijng time .