Things to do & places to visit in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur, China

Urumqi city in Xinjiang Uygur, China. Timezone: Asia/Urumqi, current date and time: Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 19:15.

Urumqi Weather Statistics view more »

General weather summary in May

71°F - 48°F

Temperature Highs - Lows

Moderately chilly with a gentle breeze

Feels like

26%

Chance of rain

93.0 millimeters

Amount

12.4 mph

Wind speed

40%

Humidity

14.7

Daylight length

4:45 AM

Sunrise

7:26 PM

Sunset

53%

Cloud cover

Sweater

What to wear

Top things to do (22)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Xinjiang Private One-day Tour Guide-Ablajan Jilil (69 reviews)
- A great way to explore Xinjiang
Private Tours

We hired Ablajan as our driver and guide for our 10 day road trip touring north and northwest xinjiang. But due to covid, we had to skip the northwest and do more day trips out of Urumqi and we went to Turpan. Having Ablajan allows us to be very flexible with our itinerary and he was experienced and knowledgeable enough to make the changes seamless and painless. We actually ended up experiencing a wide spectrum of landscapes which was amazing and exciting. Ablajan is effectively fluent in a few languages, professional, punctual and willing to go that extra mile. His car is always clean and spotless when he arrives in the morning to take us out. And with my diet restrictions, he will always bring me something yummy to eat for lunch at scenic spots where there are not much food options. Will definitely contact Ablajan again for our next trip to xinjiang. See more..
4.5 Tianshan Tianchi Lake (357 reviews)
- The Heavenly Lake
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM Bodies of Water • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Lookouts

Formerly known as Yaochi (Jade Lake), it is guarded by the stately peaks and offers a spectacular sight. See more..
4.5 Xinjiang Regional Museum (Qu Bowuguan) (248 reviews)
- Excellent Xinjiang Museum
Wednesday: 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM Speciality Museums

The Xinjiang Museum is both modern and large, and it has many items of interest on display - all kinds of items from the past and from different cultures that had lived in the area. What I really like in the museum are the many life-like statues that depict the dress and activities from the area. These statures appear to be very realistic, and they really give a sense of what people look and do in the areas surrounding Urumqi - very nice! This Museum is a very nice, worthwhile place to visit. See more..
4.5 Tianshan Mountains (88 reviews)
- Fresh air, scenic views, don't miss this!
Mountains

Arrived at the park entrance after about an hours drive outside of Urumqi. There, you must park your car and take the park's buses, which may stop at a few scenic points where you can hop on/ hop off. One of the stops, the Kazakh Folk Village, is kind of a tourist trap, offering pricey meals to your party in a traditional Kazakh yurt. Otherwise, simply enjoy the views of the trees, mountains and streams from the bus as you drive on winding roads up the mountain. The Heavenly Lake (Tianchi) itself is absolutely stunning with nice mountainous views. You have the option to buy a ~20 minute boat/ferry ride, or to simply walk around the lake on the well constructed wooden/ stone pathway. Remember to bring a light jacket as it can get chilly (even in the summertime). See more..
4.5 Mt. Tianshan Ski Area (7 reviews)
- Beautiful skiing
Ski & Snowboard Areas
Not for anyone who is used to the Alps or Colorado but for Urumqi it's pretty good and VERY reasonable. A whole day including the bus this year was about nine UK pounds all inclusive. Only three runs and those only open while the skiing season is in full swing. FREEZING cold during the deep winter so go March or April for most fun. See more..
4.5 Glacier No.1 at the Headwaters of Urumqi River, Tianshan Mountains (7 reviews)
- Prepare well for this adventure ...
Nature & Wildlife Areas • Geologic Formations

If you drive this one yourself, be prepared for a very scary stretch of road from Urumqi. It becomes narrow, winding, rutted and ... infested by huge trucks. Top speed is 20km's an hour for the last 30 km's. The glacier is off the main road about 4 km's by the access road. We didn't figure out who you pay to drive on this, and lots of people were hiking across the marshy meadow so we followed them and it was about 2 kms. By the time we got to the glacier edge it was getting dark, so we didn't explore much. Next time ... To avoid returning on the scary road, we decided to head south and then back north on a road that looked good on Google Maps. Big mistake. Just as scary to the south and the loop back road was closed. Became a 600 km detour. That explained the huge trucks on the tiny, winding rutted road. See more..
4.5 Tianshan Mountain Wildlife Park (6 reviews)
- Beautiful, relaxing, zen
Wednesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas

If you can pick a day when the tourist traffic is at a minimum, this place is a paradise for those trying to get in touch with nature. It is no wonder why this place is called ‘Heavenly Lake’. See more..
4.0 Red Mountain (111 reviews)
- Now its actually Green...
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM Parks

If you go by bus then have to walk almost 20 minuts from nearest bus/brt stop. Enterance is free. One can either walk or sit in a mini cart after the bridge to the top. It cost only 10 Rmb i think. Once you are at the top there many things to do. In my opinion the city views are fantastic. One should go in a clear sunny day or at sunset. See more..
4.0 Red Hill (74 reviews)
- Worth a visit
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas • Lookouts

Arrived at almost 7pm and started to get dark. All the attractions were closed but the absolutely beautiful temple and the red pagoda is worth the leisurely walk uphill for 15min. See more..
4.0 People's Park of Urumqi (55 reviews)
- A dot of green and tranquility in the heart of Urumqi
Wednesday: 9:30 AM - 9:30 PM Parks

Renmin Park ( People's Park ) in Urumqi a a pleasant green space close to the center of the city. Its well used by locals of all ages and especially popular with elderly practicing Chinese calligraphy, playing checkers or participating in the public dancing. If you are in the Park around 3pm you can participate in the public dance held for locals, or anyone who is in the mood. The park has lots of green space, places to sit and relax, and is a good escape from the traffic and construction activity that is Urumqi in May 2018. See more..
4.0 Dabancheng Wind Power Station (42 reviews)
- Da-bang!
Wednesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings

The Dabancheng Wind Power Station is a neat place for a quick stop on the drive to Turpan (and the return too I suppose). We stopped for a few minutes here recently to admire the gigantic wind turbines generating immense amounts of power for the region. I have my issues with wind power generators but as this isn’t the forum for it, this is an interesting stop nonetheless for the sheer size of it all. See more..
4.0 Nanshan Ranch of Urumqi (33 reviews)
- Beautifully green
Ranches

Nice green fields that used to be a ski resort. If you hired a car to get out there, try to go beyond the tourist yurt camps and there is a small parking space that can be used as a base for a short hike. We went on a cool and slightly rainy day...I think it will be quite hot on a mid summer day. See more..
4.0 Southern Mosque (21 reviews)
- Grand Bazzar
Religious Sites

Its a woderful place with the Han chinese and Uigur muslims coming together to sell all sorts of things,Knife,whip,souveniors,ice cream,and many more. There is also a carrefour there where by yiu can get all your American drinks and food. Also in the 2nd floor there is lots of local food ,like rahman, sasliqe and many more cheap and good. But police and army almost everywhere,very good security and you can walk along the street and you can find lots of muslim shop selling almost everything. Its a must visit place. Dont buy the sword or knife,because you cannot bring it back if yoir country or the airlines have restriction. See more..
4.0 Shuimogou Park (17 reviews)
- Fairly basic but nice
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Parks • Valleys

Not far from our Urumqi hotel is Shimogou Park and we stopped by about a week ago when in the city. Nice park, good layout, beautiful ponds and creeks with lots of fish in them, not a must see in Urumqi but definitely a nice spot for a bit of relaxing time, might be really beautiful in winter though. See more..
4.0 Centre of Asia Marker (16 reviews)
- Life changing
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Truly amazing. I was rendered speechless. My life has been changed. Forever. As I stood by this fine work of architecture, I could feel Asia pulsing through me. I could feel it all, from the snow leopards roaming free in the mountains of Afghanistan, to the aromas of cinnamon and star anise in the markets of Bengal, to the drug-dealing taxi drivers of South East Asian towns, to the members of a professional Georgian football team passing a ball around in their training session, under the false impression that they are Europeans and training hard in a bid to land Europa league qualification, which given their socio-economic status and their culture of locking women in cupboards, is a complete joke. All of these things have one thing in common, their connection to this flimsy wire structure. A structure I was standing by. A tear came to me eye. I realised that myself and this grand continent were one. See more..
4.0 Hongguangshan Scenic Resort (10 reviews)
- It's huge
Mountains • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Scenic Drives

Not easy to get to but when you get there it is huge. Other facilities there are limited and a couple of hours is sufficient time to see everything. See more..
4.0 Silk Road Ski Resort (9 reviews)
- Fun Day Out
Ski & Snowboard Areas

Not much English spoken, but very friendly staff who will do their best. The equipment is new and the facilities are good (for China). It's an all inclusive ticket by the hour, and the rate goes up and up in the high season. Go try it out before the middle of December. The beginners slope has a moving walkway, and the slope is gentle. Beware of out of control newbies. The first chairlift run has a sharp drop off, but you can detour around the back and avoid it. See more..
4.0 Beifang Mosque (9 reviews)
- Shaanxi Mosque
Religious Sites

Built in 1736-1795, during Emperor Qianlong. it is a beautiful mosque on the inside. It is 3 storeys. See more..
4.0 The United States Shopping Mall (8 reviews)
- Standard mall elsewhere, but nice for Urumqi.
Shopping Malls

This mall had an ATM that actually accepted my American credit cards. I had constant trouble in Xinjiang otherwise getting any of my cards accepted. Many known western brands. See more..
4.0 Bizhao Mountain (3 reviews)
- Flaming Mountain
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Mountains

I'm not sure if Bizhao is the same as Flaming Mountain, which is where I went. I went late in the day, in May and it was .....hot. Very hot 58º C worth of hot. Interesting, worth the trip, but I didn't need to stay long. See more..
4.0 Nanshan Ancient Beacon Tower (3 reviews)
- Grandeur Forgotten
Ancient Ruins

If you are on the way to Tianshan Gorge, you may glimpse this in the trees on the east side of the road. It takes a little finding, and it helps to know the Chinese characters, so I have put that in the photo. This Silk Road remnant has been stranded in the rough farmland, and is very peaceful, especially if you are biking this road. See more..
4.0 Xinjiang Uygur Geology Minerals Exhibition Hall (3 reviews)
- Interesting exhibits
Wednesday: 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM Speciality Museums
This museum is located on Youhao North Road, a short walk from the more popular Xinjiang Uygur Regional Museum. It is easily reached by bus 23, 34, ,53, 302 ,306 ,309 ,917 and 921. The BRT bus route is also on this street a few minutes walk from the museum. You will have to go through a security check, and if you are carrying bags these must be placed in lockers provided to the left of the entrance to the museum. There are a few interesting exhibits outside of the museum which include one of the largest iron meteorites in the world and exhibits of petrified wood. The museum has four floors of exhibits. The ground floor has the Life Evolution Hall which included fossils and exhibits from the dinosaur age. The best exhibit here was of the dinosaur skeletons. Another hall on the first floor was Universe Earth Hall. This hall had displays on the solar system and volcanoes. The second floor had exhibits of stones and minerals which were of use in the manufacturing and craft industries. Samples of the finished products were on display. The third floor included the Energy Resources Hall. This provided details on the coal and natural gas industry. Many samples of the different products and photos of mining activities were on show. There were also many beautiful carvings of jade and other rocks on display. The fourth floor was probably the least impressive. It contained information on the resources of Xinjiang, and had maps which displayed the areas where the different types of mining activities were carried out. We thought that this was an interesting museum. It may be best to take the elevator to the fourth floor and make your way down via the stairs whilst viewing the exhibits. You will require at least an hour here as the displays are extensive. If you have children who are interested in science, this will be a great experience. The jade carvings are very attractive and lovers of art will appreciate these. See more..
4.0 Xinjiang Uygur Baicao Garden (3 reviews)
- 郊外
Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks

ウルムチ郊外にあります。公共交通機関ではアクセスができません。広大な敷地に植物や、主に草食動物が放されています。ウルムチ動物園とはまた違った楽しみ方ができ、こちらのほうが年齢層が上でした。 See more..
4.0 Yamalike Mountain Tourist Scenic Area (2 reviews)
- Wannabee Scenic Area
Wednesday: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks • Scenic Walking Areas

This is a mountain area recently forested and being turned slowly into a park. I wouldn'\t really describe it as a tourist scenic area YET. It used to be a massive slum of adobe houses until they were all razed for the scenic area so it is more embryonic than fully formed. Worth a visit though since you get fantastic views over Urumqi on a clear day and in the winter the higher you climb the more you get out of the smog. See more..
4.0 Dongbaiyang Valley (2 reviews)
- East Valley
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Valleys • Ranches

Fantastic mountains and not too commercialised. Go off the beaten track and find a yurt to stay in far from the madding karaoke crowd. See more..
3.5 Grand Bazzar (189 reviews)
- Bazaar with a Middle-Eastern Flavor
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Just as the name suggests, The Grand Bazaar or its official name,Urumqi International Bazaar is a shoppers' paradise. This place looks more like Middle-east or Central Asia than China. Most of the shops here are run by the Uyghurs and the goods sold here have a distinct Islamic flavor. If you are in Urumqi for a short visit, then this is the place for you to soak in the some local atmosphere, taste some Uyghur food and get some souvenirs. Items sold here are mostly cheap clothings, scarves, local handicrafts, musical instruments, hats, carpets, nuts and fruits. It is a very colorful place with much to see and buy (if you love shopping). Like most public places in this region, visitors will have to go through stringent security check before entering the bazaar complex. See more..
3.5 Urumqi Botanical Garden (14 reviews)
- Good for old folks
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Amusement & Theme Parks • Parks

The Urumqi Botanical Garden is a small garden which is nicely laid out with lots of beautiful plants and benches for the old people to sit on. Not a great botanic garden overall but inexpensive and lovely anyway. See more..
3.5 Urumqi Zoo (12 reviews)
- Urumqi Zootopia
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Zoos

Maybe you can judge people by how they keep animals. The Urumqi Zoo is one of the least visually stimulating zoos I have been in and believe me we have been to a lot around the world. The cages are large and the animals that are there seem happy enough and cared for but there are empty cages, places that look like nothing has ever been there, it is dusty with little landscaping and if you spend an hour there you have seen it all. I hate to give bad ratings to zoos because people should support zoos and wildlife conservation but I can only go as high as 3 star for this one. See more..
3.5 People's Theater of Xinjiang Uygur (11 reviews)
- Excellent show
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 12:00 AM Architectural Buildings • Theaters

Just get the RMB399 worth the excellent songs and dancing, buffet dinner was a waste of calories. Authentic Xinjiang culture showcase, a must go. Then adjourned downstairs to the open courtyard by the famous tower for all night locals spontaneous dancing to local hip music See more..
3.0 Hantengeli Temple (7 reviews)
- Beautiful building
Wednesday: 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM Religious Sites

Another splendid mosque of urumqi. Here there is nothing to see inside but the building itself is extremely beautiful and worth a visit. See more..