Ürümqi
Encyclopedia
Ürümqi formerly Tihwa , is the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China
, in the northwest
of the country.
With a built up population of 2,744,280 as of 2010 census (5 urban districts plus Midong) and 2.3 in urban districts, Ürümqi, whose name means "beautiful pasture" in the Mongolian language
of the Dzungar people, is the largest city in China's western interior. Since the 1990s Ürümqi has developed economically and now serves as a regional transport node and commercial centre.
, it is likely to be a relatively young city. According to Chinese scholars, during the 22nd year of Emperor Taizong's
reign in the Tang Dynasty
, AD 648, the Tang government set up the town of Luntai in the ancient town seat of Urabo, 10 kilometers from the southern suburb of present-day Ürümqi. Ancient Luntai Town was a seat of local government, and collected taxes from the caravans
along the northern route of the Silk Road.
Steppe peoples had used the location, the pass between the Bogda Shan
mountains to the East and the Tien Shan mountains to the west, connecting the Dzungar Basin
to the north and the Turpan Depression in the south. In the 7th century the location was controlled by tribes of the Göktürks
(Turkic Khaganate). In 742 AD, the Göktürk Khaganate split as the Uyghur tribes and the Eastern "wing" of the Göktürks broke off to form the Uyghur Khaganate. Ürümqi sat in the center of this empire until 1220, when it merged with the Mongol Empire
under Genghis Khan
. After the division of the Mongol Empire, the town then passed into the Chagatai Khanate
where Sufi Islam
dominated Ürümqi culture. Around 1670 the Uyghur tribes revolted from the Chagatais and united with the Dzungar tribes to form Zunghar Khanate
. Ürümqi remained a small town, and less important than the oasis and Silk Road trade center Turpan 200 km to the southeast.
Thus, little is heard of the region following the Tang Dynasty in the Chinese texts until the Qing Dynasty
conquest of Dzungaria
in 1755 under the Emperor Qianlong. The Dzungars were deliberately exterminated in a brutal campaign of ethnic genocide
. One writer, Wei Yuan
, described the resulting desolation in what is now northern Xinjiang as: "an empty plain for a thousand li, with no trace of man." After 1759 state farms were established, "especially in the vicinity of Urumchi, where there was fertile, well-watered land and few people." It has been estimated that more than a million people were slaughtered, and it took generations for it to recover.
During the Qing Dynasty (1763) the Qianlong Emperor named the expanded town of Luntai "Dihua" (Chinese:迪化; pinyin
: Díhuà; Manchu
: Wen de dahabure fu), meaning "to enlighten." In 1884, the Guangxu Emperor
established Xinjiang
as a Province, with Dihua as its capital.
The Battle of Urumqi (1870)
took place in 1870 between the Turkic Muslim forces of Yaqub Beg against the Dungan Muslim
forces of Tuo Ming (Daud Khalifa). With the help of Xu Xuegong's Han chinese
militia, Yaqub beg's forces defeated the Dungans.
During the Kumul Rebellion
the Battle of Urumqi (1933) and the Battle of Urumqi (1933–34) took place between the forces of Ma Zhongying
's 36th Division (National Revolutionary Army)
and Jin Shuren
and Sheng Shicai
's provincial forces. At the second battle Ma was assisted by Han chinese
General Zhang Peiyuan
.
Following the founding of the People's Republic of China, on 1 February 1954, the city was renamed Ürümqi, meaning "beautiful pasture" in the Mongolian language
of the Dzungar people.
The city was the site of major rioting in July 2009 due to conflicts between Han and Uyghur ethnic groups in which nearly 200 people were left dead; most of the victims were Han-Chinese. Reports of extensive police retaliation against the Uyghur minority have circulated ever since, despite the Chinese government having shut down access to emails and overseas phone calls.
, Ürümqi has earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the most remote city from any sea in the world. It is about 2500 kilometres (1,553.4 mi) from the nearest coastline as Ürümqi is the closest major city to the Eurasian pole of inaccessibility
, although Karamay
and Altay, both in Xinjiang, are closer. The city has an administrative area of 10989 square kilometres (4,242.9 sq mi) and has an average elevation of 800 metres (2,624.7 ft).
BSk) prevails, with very large differences between summer and winter, hot summers, with a July daily average of 23.7 °C (74.7 °F), and cold winters, with a January daily average of -12.6 °C. The annual average temperature is 6.9 °C (44.4 °F). The city is semi-arid, with its summers slightly wetter than its winters. Yet sunny weather is more likely in the warmer months, and relative humidity is the lowest during summer. Its annual precipitation is about 290 millimetres (11.4 in). Extreme temperatures have ranged from −41.5 °C to 42.1 °C (108 °F).
and 1 county.
Ürümqi is a major industrial center within Xinjiang. Ürümqi, together with Karamay
and Korla
, account for 64.5% of the total industrial output of Xinjiang. Ürümqi is also the largest consumer center in the region, recording ¥
41.9 billion retail sales of consumer goods in 2008, an increase of 26% from 2007. The GDP
per capita reached US$6,222 in 2008. According to statistics, Urumqi ranked 7th in 2008 by the disposable income for urban residents among cities in Western China
. Ürümqi has been a central developmental target for the China Western Development
project that the Central Government is pursuing.
The Urumqi Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Fair
has been held annually since 1991. Its purpose is to promote domestic and foreign markets. The 17th Fair has attracted participants from the Ministry of Commerce
and the China Council for Promotion of International Trade
.
As the economic center, Urumqi has expanded its urban area since the 1990s. The CBDs
in the city increased rapidly all around the major districts. China CITIC Bank Mansion
(中信银行大厦), located in one of the CBDs in North Xinhua Road, is the tallest building in Urumqi and Xinjiang
; with a height of 229 metres, it is also the tallest in Northwestern China
and Central Asia
. Lacking a subway, the city built an outer ring road (外环路) in 2003, which considerably facilitates transport. Zhongshan Road (Sun Yat-sen Road, Chinese: 中山路) in Urumqi has been one of the ten most famous commercial streets in the People's Republic of China since 2005 (through official appraisals). The others are Wangfujing
, etc. The commercial street of Zhongshan Road has the largest computer, mobile phone
and consumer electronics
market, i.e. Baihuacun, Cyber Digital Plaza and Fountain Plaza, in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region; it is believed to be the focal point of technological products in Urumqi.
, Xinjiang Normal University, Xinjiang Agricultural University
, Xinjiang Medical University
and many others.
. The airport
is one of the five major airports in the People's Republic of China. It is also a hub for China Southern Airlines. It has been rumored that a new airline China Central Airlines will start operations at the airport sometime in late 2010.
Ürümqi is Xinjiang's main rail hub. It is the western terminus of the Lanzhou-Xinjiang (Lanxin) and Ürümqi-Dzungaria (Wuzhun)
Railway, and the eastern terminus of the Northern Xinjiang (Beijiang)
and the Second Ürümqi-Jinghe Railway
. The Beijiang and the Lanxin Lines form part of the Trans-Eurasian Continental Railway
, which runs from Rotterdam
through the Alataw Pass
on the Kazkhstan border to Ürümqi and on to Lanzhou and Lianyungang
. There is also a high-speed rail line
under construction, which is expected to connect Ürümqi with Xining
and Lanzhou
in 2014.
Many roads North & West typically shut down rapidly in the early October period, remaining shut until winter breaks. Trains should remain operational.
The Xinjiang Networking Transmission Limited
operates the Urumqi People's Broadcasting Station and the Xinjiang People's Broadcasting Station, broadcasting in the Mandarin, Uyghur
, Kazakh
, Mongolian
, Russian and the Kyrgyz
languages.
The Xinjiang Television Station (XJTV), located in Urumqi, is the major TV broadcasting station in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The local television station for Urumqi city is Urumqi Television Station
(UTV)(乌鲁木齐电视台).
with:
Almaty
is a state-level city of Kazakhstan
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, in the northwest
Northwestern China
Northwestern China includes the autonomous regions of Xinjiang and Ningxia and the provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu, and Qinghai.-Administrative divisions:ProvincesAutonomous Regions-Outer Northwest China:...
of the country.
With a built up population of 2,744,280 as of 2010 census (5 urban districts plus Midong) and 2.3 in urban districts, Ürümqi, whose name means "beautiful pasture" in the Mongolian language
Mongolian language
The Mongolian language is the official language of Mongolia and the best-known member of the Mongolic language family. The number of speakers across all its dialects may be 5.2 million, including the vast majority of the residents of Mongolia and many of the Mongolian residents of the Inner...
of the Dzungar people, is the largest city in China's western interior. Since the 1990s Ürümqi has developed economically and now serves as a regional transport node and commercial centre.
History
Although Ürümqi is situated near the northern route of the Silk RoadSilk Road
The Silk Road or Silk Route refers to a historical network of interlinking trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian landmass that connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa...
, it is likely to be a relatively young city. According to Chinese scholars, during the 22nd year of Emperor Taizong's
Emperor Taizong of Tang
Emperor Taizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Shìmín , was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649...
reign in the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, AD 648, the Tang government set up the town of Luntai in the ancient town seat of Urabo, 10 kilometers from the southern suburb of present-day Ürümqi. Ancient Luntai Town was a seat of local government, and collected taxes from the caravans
Caravan (travellers)
A caravan is a group of people traveling together, often on a trade expedition. Caravans were used mainly in desert areas and throughout the Silk Road, where traveling in groups aided in defence against bandits as well as helped to improve economies of scale in trade.In historical times, caravans...
along the northern route of the Silk Road.
Steppe peoples had used the location, the pass between the Bogda Shan
Bogda Shan
The Bogda Shan range is part of the eastern Tien Shan mountains, and located in Xinjiang, some 60 km east of Ürümqi. The highest elevation is Bogda Feng, at 5445 m....
mountains to the East and the Tien Shan mountains to the west, connecting the Dzungar Basin
Dzungaria
Dzungaria, also called Zungaria, is a geographical region in northwest China corresponding to the northern half of Xinjiang. It covers approximately , lying mostly within Xinjiang, and extending into western Mongolia and eastern Kazakhstan...
to the north and the Turpan Depression in the south. In the 7th century the location was controlled by tribes of the Göktürks
Göktürks
The Göktürks or Kök Türks, were a nomadic confederation of peoples in medieval Inner Asia. Known in Chinese sources as 突厥 , the Göktürks under the leadership of Bumin Qaghan The Göktürks or Kök Türks, (Old Turkic: Türük or Kök Türük or Türük; Celestial Turks) were a nomadic confederation of...
(Turkic Khaganate). In 742 AD, the Göktürk Khaganate split as the Uyghur tribes and the Eastern "wing" of the Göktürks broke off to form the Uyghur Khaganate. Ürümqi sat in the center of this empire until 1220, when it merged with the Mongol Empire
Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire , initially named as Greater Mongol State was a great empire during the 13th and 14th centuries...
under Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan , born Temujin and occasionally known by his temple name Taizu , was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death....
. After the division of the Mongol Empire, the town then passed into the Chagatai Khanate
Chagatai Khanate
The Chagatai Khanate was a Turko-Mongol khanate that comprised the lands ruled by Chagatai Khan , second son of the Great Khan Genghis Khan, and his descendents and successors...
where Sufi Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
dominated Ürümqi culture. Around 1670 the Uyghur tribes revolted from the Chagatais and united with the Dzungar tribes to form Zunghar Khanate
Zunghar Khanate
The Zunghar Khanate was a nomadic power on the Eurasian steppe. It covered the area called Dzungaria and stretched from the west end of the Great Wall of China to present-day eastern Kazakhstan, and from present-day northern Kyrgyzstan to southern Siberia .In 1678 Galdan received from the Dalai...
. Ürümqi remained a small town, and less important than the oasis and Silk Road trade center Turpan 200 km to the southeast.
Thus, little is heard of the region following the Tang Dynasty in the Chinese texts until the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
conquest of Dzungaria
Dzungaria
Dzungaria, also called Zungaria, is a geographical region in northwest China corresponding to the northern half of Xinjiang. It covers approximately , lying mostly within Xinjiang, and extending into western Mongolia and eastern Kazakhstan...
in 1755 under the Emperor Qianlong. The Dzungars were deliberately exterminated in a brutal campaign of ethnic genocide
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
. One writer, Wei Yuan
Wei Yuan
Wei Yuan , born Wei Yuanda , courtesy names Moshen and Hanshi , was a Chinese scholar from Shaoyang, Hunan. He moved to Yangzhou in 1831, where he remained for the rest of his life. Wei obtained the provincial degree in the Imperial examinations and subsequently worked in the secretariat of...
, described the resulting desolation in what is now northern Xinjiang as: "an empty plain for a thousand li, with no trace of man." After 1759 state farms were established, "especially in the vicinity of Urumchi, where there was fertile, well-watered land and few people." It has been estimated that more than a million people were slaughtered, and it took generations for it to recover.
During the Qing Dynasty (1763) the Qianlong Emperor named the expanded town of Luntai "Dihua" (Chinese:迪化; pinyin
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Díhuà; Manchu
Manchu language
Manchu is a Tungusic endangered language spoken in Northeast China; it used to be the language of the Manchu, though now most Manchus speak Mandarin Chinese and there are fewer than 70 native speakers of Manchu out of a total of nearly 10 million ethnic Manchus...
: Wen de dahabure fu), meaning "to enlighten." In 1884, the Guangxu Emperor
Guangxu Emperor
The Guangxu Emperor , born Zaitian of the Aisin-Gioro clan, was the eleventh emperor of the Manchurian Qing Dynasty, and the ninth Qing emperor to rule over China. His reign lasted from 1875 to 1908, but in practice he ruled, under Empress Dowager Cixi's influence, only from 1889 to 1898...
established Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
as a Province, with Dihua as its capital.
The Battle of Urumqi (1870)
Battle of Ürümqi (1870)
The Battle of Ürümqi was a battle waged by Yaqub Beg's Turkic kingdom of Kashgaria against Chinese Muslim rebels in Ürümqi in a bid to conquer all of Xinjiang and subjugated Chinese Muslims under his control.-Battle:...
took place in 1870 between the Turkic Muslim forces of Yaqub Beg against the Dungan Muslim
Hui people
The Hui people are an ethnic group in China, defined as Chinese speaking people descended from foreign Muslims. They are typically distinguished by their practice of Islam, however some also practice other religions, and many are direct descendants of Silk Road travelers.In modern People's...
forces of Tuo Ming (Daud Khalifa). With the help of Xu Xuegong's Han chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
militia, Yaqub beg's forces defeated the Dungans.
During the Kumul Rebellion
Kumul Rebellion
The Kumul Rebellion was a rebellion of Kumulik Uyghurs who conspired with the Chinese Muslim General Ma Zhongying to overthrow Jin Shuren, governor of Xinjiang. The Kuomintang wanted Jin removed because of his ties to the Soviet Union, so it approved of the operation while pretending to acknowledge...
the Battle of Urumqi (1933) and the Battle of Urumqi (1933–34) took place between the forces of Ma Zhongying
Ma Zhongying
Ma Zhongying, also Ma Chung-ying was a Tungan Chinese Muslim warlord during the Warlord era of China. Ma Zhongying's birth name was Ma Buying . Zhongying was a warlord of Gansu province in China during the 1930s. He allied himself with the Kuomintang, which gave his soldiers an official...
's 36th Division (National Revolutionary Army)
36th Division (National Revolutionary Army)
The 36th Division was a cavalry division in the National Revolutionary Army. It was created in 1932 by the Kuomintang for General Ma Zhongying, who was also its first commander. It was made almost entirely out of Hui Muslim troops, all of its officers were Hui, with a few thousand Uighurs forced...
and Jin Shuren
Jin Shuren
Jin Shuren , governor of Xinjiang, succeeded Yang Zengxin after Yang was assassinated in 1928. Jin ruled Xinjiang for about half a decade, and his reign was characterized by corruption and suppression. Under his rule, both ethnic and religion conflicts were greatly deepened, resulting in numerous...
and Sheng Shicai
Sheng Shicai
Sheng Shicai was a Chinese warlord who "ruled" Xinjiang province from April 12, 1933 to August 29, 1944....
's provincial forces. At the second battle Ma was assisted by Han chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
General Zhang Peiyuan
Zhang Peiyuan
Zhang Peiyuan was a Han chinese general, commander of the Ili garrison. He fought against Uighur and Tungans during the Kumul revolt, but then secretly negotiated with the Tungan general, Ma Zhongying to form an alliance against Sheng Shicai and the Soviet Union. Zhang's army had about 3,000...
.
Following the founding of the People's Republic of China, on 1 February 1954, the city was renamed Ürümqi, meaning "beautiful pasture" in the Mongolian language
Mongolian language
The Mongolian language is the official language of Mongolia and the best-known member of the Mongolic language family. The number of speakers across all its dialects may be 5.2 million, including the vast majority of the residents of Mongolia and many of the Mongolian residents of the Inner...
of the Dzungar people.
The city was the site of major rioting in July 2009 due to conflicts between Han and Uyghur ethnic groups in which nearly 200 people were left dead; most of the victims were Han-Chinese. Reports of extensive police retaliation against the Uyghur minority have circulated ever since, despite the Chinese government having shut down access to emails and overseas phone calls.
Geography
The largest city in western ChinaWestern China
Western China , refers to the western part of China. In the definition of the Chinese government, Western China covers six provinces: Gansu, Guizhou, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Yunnan; one municipality: Chongqing; and three autonomous regions: Ningxia, Tibet, and Xinjiang.-Administrative...
, Ürümqi has earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the most remote city from any sea in the world. It is about 2500 kilometres (1,553.4 mi) from the nearest coastline as Ürümqi is the closest major city to the Eurasian pole of inaccessibility
Pole of inaccessibility
A pole of inaccessibility marks a location that is the most challenging to reach owing to its remoteness from geographical features that could provide access...
, although Karamay
Karamay
Karamay, Qaramay or Kelamayi is a prefecture-level city in the north of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in northwestern China...
and Altay, both in Xinjiang, are closer. The city has an administrative area of 10989 square kilometres (4,242.9 sq mi) and has an average elevation of 800 metres (2,624.7 ft).
Climate
In Ürümqi a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classificationKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
BSk) prevails, with very large differences between summer and winter, hot summers, with a July daily average of 23.7 °C (74.7 °F), and cold winters, with a January daily average of -12.6 °C. The annual average temperature is 6.9 °C (44.4 °F). The city is semi-arid, with its summers slightly wetter than its winters. Yet sunny weather is more likely in the warmer months, and relative humidity is the lowest during summer. Its annual precipitation is about 290 millimetres (11.4 in). Extreme temperatures have ranged from −41.5 °C to 42.1 °C (108 °F).
Administrative divisions
Ürümqi currently comprises 8 county-level subdivisions: 7 districtsDistrict (China)
The term district, in the context of China, is used to refer to several unrelated political divisions in both ancient and modern China....
and 1 county.
| Map | # | Name | Hanzi | Hanyu Pinyin | Uyghur Uyghur language Uyghur , formerly known as Eastern Turk, is a Turkic language with 8 to 11 million speakers, spoken primarily by the Uyghur people in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of Western China. Significant communities of Uyghur-speakers are located in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and various other... |
Population (2003 est.) | Area (km²) | Density (/km²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City proper | ||||||||
| 1 | Tianshan District Tianshan District Tianshan District is a district within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and is under the administrative jurisdiction of the Ürümqi City. It contains an area of 171 km2. According to the 2002 census, it has a population of 450,000.... |
天山区 | Tiānshān Qū | تىيانشان رايونى | Tiyanshan Rayoni | 490,000 | 171 | 2,865 |
| 2 | Saybagh District Saybagh District The Saybagh District is a district within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and is under the administrative jurisdiction of the Ürümqi City. It contains an area of 422 km2. According to the 2002 census, it has a population of 440,000.... |
沙依巴克区 | Shāyībākè Qū | سايباغ رايونى | Saybagh Rayoni | 450,000 | 422 | 1,066 |
| 3 | Xinshi District Xinshi District, Ürümqi Xinshi District is a district within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and is under the administrative jurisdiction of the Ürümqi City. It contains an area of 142 km2. According to the 2002 census, it has a population of 360,000.... |
新市区 | Xīnshì Qū | يېڭىشەھەر رايونى | Yéngisheher Rayoni | 390,000 | 143 | 2,727 |
| 4 | Shuimogou District Shuimogou District The Shuimogou District is a district within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and is under the administrative jurisdiction of the Ürümqi City. It contains an area of 91 km2. According to the 2002 census, it has a population of 150,000.... |
水磨沟区 | Shuǐmògōu Qū | شۇيموگۇ رايونى | Shuymogu Rayoni | 180,000 | 92 | 1,957 |
| Suburban | ||||||||
| 5 | Toutunhe District Toutunhe District The Toutunhe District is a district within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and is under the administrative jurisdiction of the Ürümqi City. It contains an area of 276 km2. According to the 2002 census, it has a population of 130,000.... |
头屯河区 | Tóutúnhé Qū | تۇدۇڭخابا رايونى | Tudungxaba Rayoni | 120,000 | 276 | 435 |
| 6 | Dabancheng District Dabancheng District The Dabancheng District is a district within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and is under the administrative jurisdiction of the Ürümqi City. Located southeast of Ürümq urban area, it contains an area of 5,042 km2... |
达坂城区 | Dábǎnchéng Qū | د اۋانچىڭ رايونى | D Avanchyng Rayoni | 40,000 | 5,188 | 8 |
| 7 | Midong District | 米东区 | Mǐdōng Qū | میدونگ رايونى | Midong Rayoni | 290,000 | 3,594 | 56 |
| Rural | ||||||||
| 8 | Ürümqi County Ürümqi County Ürümqi County is a county within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and is under the administrative jurisdiction of the Ürümqi City. It contains an area of 4,601 km² and according to the 2002 census has a population of 80,000.-External links:... |
乌鲁木齐县 | Wūlǔmùqí Xiàn | ئۈرۈمچى ناھىيىسى | Ürümchi Nahiyisi | 80,000 | 4,332 | 18 |
Demographics
According to the 2000 census, Ürümqi has 2,081,834 inhabitants, with a population density of 174.53 inhabitants/km².| Ethnicity | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Han Han Chinese Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the... |
1.567.562 | 75.3% |
| Uyghur Uyghur people The Uyghur are a Turkic ethnic group living in Eastern and Central Asia. Today, Uyghurs live primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China... |
266.342 | 12.79% |
| Hui Hui people The Hui people are an ethnic group in China, defined as Chinese speaking people descended from foreign Muslims. They are typically distinguished by their practice of Islam, however some also practice other religions, and many are direct descendants of Silk Road travelers.In modern People's... |
167.148 | 8.03% |
| Kazakhs Kazakhs The Kazakhs are a Turkic people of the northern parts of Central Asia .... |
48.772 | 2.34% |
| Manchu Manchu The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which... |
7.682 | 0.37% |
| Mongol Mongols Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia... |
7.252 | 0.35% |
| Xibe Xibe The Xibe or Sibo are a Tungusic ethnic group living mostly in northeast China and Xinjiang. They form one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China.- History :... |
3.674 | 0.18% |
| Russian Russians The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries.... |
2.603 | 0.13% |
| Tu Tu people The Monguor or Tu people , White Mongol/Chagan Mongol are one of the 56 officially recognized ethnic groups in the People's Republic of China. The "Tu" ethnic category was created in the 1950s.... |
1.613 | 0.08% |
| Kyrgyz | 1.436 | 0.07% |
| Uzbek Uzbeks The Uzbeks are a Turkic ethnic group in Central Asia. They comprise the majority population of Uzbekistan, and large populations can also be found in Afghanistan, Tajikstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Pakistan, Mongolia and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China... |
1.406 | 0.07% |
| Zhuang | 878 | 0.04% |
| Tatar Tatars Tatars are a Turkic speaking ethnic group , numbering roughly 7 million.The majority of Tatars live in the Russian Federation, with a population of around 5.5 million, about 2 million of which in the republic of Tatarstan.Significant minority populations are found in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,... |
767 | 0.04% |
| Tibetan Tibetan people The Tibetan people are an ethnic group that is native to Tibet, which is mostly in the People's Republic of China. They number 5.4 million and are the 10th largest ethnic group in the country. Significant Tibetan minorities also live in India, Nepal, and Bhutan... |
665 | 0.03% |
| Dongxiang Dongxiang people The Dongxiang people are one of 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China... |
621 | 0.03% |
| Miao Miao people The Miao or ม้ง ; ) is an ethnic group recognized by the government of the People's Republic of China as one of the 55 official minority groups. Miao is a Chinese term and does not reflect the self-designations of the component nations of people, which include Hmong, Hmu, A Hmao, and Kho Xiong... |
620 | 0.03% |
| Korean | 588 | 0.03% |
| Other | 2.205 | 0.09% |
Economy
Karamay
Karamay, Qaramay or Kelamayi is a prefecture-level city in the north of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in northwestern China...
and Korla
Korla
-Economy:Korla has long been the biggest centre in the region after Karashahr itself, having abundant water and extensive farmlands, as well as controlling the main routes to the south and west of Karashahr. Due to the discovery of oil in the Taklamakan Desert, Korla is now both more populous and...
, account for 64.5% of the total industrial output of Xinjiang. Ürümqi is also the largest consumer center in the region, recording ¥
Renminbi
The Renminbi is the official currency of the People's Republic of China . Renminbi is legal tender in mainland China, but not in Hong Kong or Macau. It is issued by the People's Bank of China, the monetary authority of the PRC...
41.9 billion retail sales of consumer goods in 2008, an increase of 26% from 2007. The GDP
Gross domestic product
Gross domestic product refers to the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period. GDP per capita is often considered an indicator of a country's standard of living....
per capita reached US$6,222 in 2008. According to statistics, Urumqi ranked 7th in 2008 by the disposable income for urban residents among cities in Western China
Western China
Western China , refers to the western part of China. In the definition of the Chinese government, Western China covers six provinces: Gansu, Guizhou, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Yunnan; one municipality: Chongqing; and three autonomous regions: Ningxia, Tibet, and Xinjiang.-Administrative...
. Ürümqi has been a central developmental target for the China Western Development
China Western Development
China Western Development , also China's Western Development, Western China Development, Great Western Development Strategy, or the Open Up the West Program is a policy adopted by the People's Republic of China to boost its less developed western regions.The policy covers 6 provinces , 5 autonomous...
project that the Central Government is pursuing.
Urumqi Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Fair
Urumqi Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Fair , commonly abbreviated as Urumqi Fair , is an annual trade fair held in Urumqi of Xinjiang, China, since it was started on September 2, 1992. Its purpose is to promote trading and market exploration in Northwestern China with foreign countries mainly...
has been held annually since 1991. Its purpose is to promote domestic and foreign markets. The 17th Fair has attracted participants from the Ministry of Commerce
Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China
The Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China , formerly Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation is an executive agency of the State Council of China...
and the China Council for Promotion of International Trade
China Council for the Promotion of International Trade
The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade is a trade body of the Chinese government founded in 1952. It also goes by the name of the China Chamber of International Commerce ....
.
As the economic center, Urumqi has expanded its urban area since the 1990s. The CBDs
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
in the city increased rapidly all around the major districts. China CITIC Bank Mansion
Zhong Tian Plaza
China CITIC Bank Mansion , formerly Zhong Tian Plaza is a 59-floor/229-meter tall skyscraper in Urumqi, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China. It is the tallest building in Northwestern China and Central Asia....
(中信银行大厦), located in one of the CBDs in North Xinhua Road, is the tallest building in Urumqi and Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
; with a height of 229 metres, it is also the tallest in Northwestern China
Northwestern China
Northwestern China includes the autonomous regions of Xinjiang and Ningxia and the provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu, and Qinghai.-Administrative divisions:ProvincesAutonomous Regions-Outer Northwest China:...
and Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
. Lacking a subway, the city built an outer ring road (外环路) in 2003, which considerably facilitates transport. Zhongshan Road (Sun Yat-sen Road, Chinese: 中山路) in Urumqi has been one of the ten most famous commercial streets in the People's Republic of China since 2005 (through official appraisals). The others are Wangfujing
Wangfujing
Wángfǔjǐng , located in Dongcheng District, Beijing, is one of the Chinese capital's most famous shopping streets. Much of the road is off-limits to cars and other motor vehicles, and it is not rare to see the entire street full of people. Since the middle of the Ming Dynasty there have been...
, etc. The commercial street of Zhongshan Road has the largest computer, mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
and consumer electronics
Consumer electronics
Consumer electronics are electronic equipment intended for everyday use, most often in entertainment, communications and office productivity. Radio broadcasting in the early 20th century brought the first major consumer product, the broadcast receiver...
market, i.e. Baihuacun, Cyber Digital Plaza and Fountain Plaza, in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region; it is believed to be the focal point of technological products in Urumqi.
Tourism
- The International Grand Bazaar XinjiangGrand Bazaar (Ürümqi)The Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar , also known as International Grand Bazaar Xinjiang, is an Islamic bazaar in Ürümqi, Xinjiang, China. It is the largest bazaar in the world by scale, combining Islamic culture, architecture, ethnic commerce, tourism and entertainment...
' onMouseout='HidePop("49665")' href="/topics/Uyghur_language">UyghurUyghur languageUyghur , formerly known as Eastern Turk, is a Turkic language with 8 to 11 million speakers, spoken primarily by the Uyghur people in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of Western China. Significant communities of Uyghur-speakers are located in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and various other...
: شىنجاڭ خەلقئارا چوڭ بازىرى) is an Islamic bazaarBazaarA bazaar , Cypriot Greek: pantopoula) is a permanent merchandising area, marketplace, or street of shops where goods and services are exchanged or sold. The term is sometimes also used to refer to the "network of merchants, bankers and craftsmen" who work that area...
located on South Jiefang Road (解放南路). - Hong Shan MountainHong ShanHong Shan, Hongshan or the Red Mountain is an inner city mountain in Ürümqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. The mountain, sometimes referred to as a hill for its smaller size than a mountain in landform, is the symbolic scenic spot of Ürümqi...
(红山) is the symbolic scenic spot of Urumqi, located in the Hong Shan Park. The highest point of the park contains a three story temple-like structure which houses some spectacular photography of the surrounding area. The third floor contains a model of the city. - Glacier No. 1 (一号冰川), origin of Urumqi River, is the largest glacier located near a city in China.
- People's SquarePeople's Square (Ürümqi)People's Square of Ürümqi is a large public square located around the major intersections of Central Business District of Ürümqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China...
(人民广场) - Nanhu Square (南湖广场)
- Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum (新疆维吾尔自治区博物馆)
- Shuimugou Hot Springs (水磨沟温泉) is located 5 km northeast of Urumqi.
- Xinjiang Silk Road Museum (新疆丝绸之路博物馆) is located right next to the Grand Bazaar at No.160 Shengli Road. It is located on the fourth and fifth floor of a very large European style building which houses a shopping complex as well. Most of the exhibits have English names as well and some of their guides speak some English.
- Ürümqi City Museum (乌鲁木齐博物馆) is located at South Nanhu Road 123 (南湖南路 123).
Education
Urumqi has many educational campuses including Xinjiang UniversityXinjiang University
Xinjiang University is one of the major universities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China, and is a national key university...
, Xinjiang Normal University, Xinjiang Agricultural University
Xinjiang Agricultural University
Xinjiang Agricultural University is a university in Ürümqi, in Xinjiang, China.Located at 42 Nanchang Road, it was founded in 1952. It is ranked at 274th in China having an allround score of 19.00.-References:...
, Xinjiang Medical University
Xinjiang Medical University
Xinjiang Medical University is a medical university in Ürümqi the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. It was ratified by the National Ministry of Education in 1998 and entitled by Jiang Zemin...
and many others.
Universities
- Xinjiang UniversityXinjiang UniversityXinjiang University is one of the major universities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China, and is a national key university...
(新疆大学) - Xinjiang Medical UniversityXinjiang Medical UniversityXinjiang Medical University is a medical university in Ürümqi the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. It was ratified by the National Ministry of Education in 1998 and entitled by Jiang Zemin...
(新疆医科大学) - Xinjiang Normal University (新疆师范大学)
- Xinjiang Agricultural UniversityXinjiang Agricultural UniversityXinjiang Agricultural University is a university in Ürümqi, in Xinjiang, China.Located at 42 Nanchang Road, it was founded in 1952. It is ranked at 274th in China having an allround score of 19.00.-References:...
(新疆农业大学) - Xinjiang Arts InstituteXinjiang Arts InstituteXinjiang Arts Institute is an arts college in Xinjiang. It is ranked at 521st in China, having a score of 15.00.- 50th Anniversary :On Sep. 26th, Xinjiang Arts Institute held a conference to celebrate its 50th anniversary of establishment at Xinjiang People's Hall...
(新疆艺术学院) - Xinjiang University of Finance & EconomicsXinjiang University of Finance and EconomicsXinjiang University of Finance and Economics is a university in Urumqi, Xinjiang, China. Founded in 1950 it is the key institution for the study of economics. There is a total enrolment of more than 20,000 students. There are 1302 staff in total, including 750 are fulltime teachers, 36 professors...
(新疆财经大学)
High schools
- Ürümqi No.1 High SchoolNo.1 Senior High School of UrumqiThe No.1 Senior High School of Ürümqi , literally Ürümqi No.1 High School, colloquially abbreviated as "乌鲁木齐一中" or "乌市一中", sometimes called No.1 Middle School of Urumqi, is a prestigious public high school in Ürümqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, under the jurisdiction of the Urumqi...
(乌鲁木齐市第一中学) - Ürümqi No.8 Middle School (乌鲁木齐市第八中学)
- Xinjiang Experimental High School (新疆实验中学)
- Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps No.2 High School (新疆生产建设兵团第二中学)
- Senior High School of Ürümqi (乌鲁木齐市高级中学)
- Bayi Middle School of Ürümqi (乌鲁木齐市八一中学)
Air
Ürümqi is served by the Ürümqi Diwopu International AirportÜrümqi Diwopu International Airport
Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport is an airport serving Ürümqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwestern China. The airport is located in Diwopu, northwest of downtown Ürümqi...
. The airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
is one of the five major airports in the People's Republic of China. It is also a hub for China Southern Airlines. It has been rumored that a new airline China Central Airlines will start operations at the airport sometime in late 2010.
Rail
- Ürümqi Railway StationÜrümqi Railway StationÜrümqi Railway Station is a railway station of the Lanzhou-Xinjiang, Northern Xinjiang, and the Second Ürümqi-Jinghe Railways. The station located in Ürümqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China.-History:The station was constructed in 1962...
Ürümqi is Xinjiang's main rail hub. It is the western terminus of the Lanzhou-Xinjiang (Lanxin) and Ürümqi-Dzungaria (Wuzhun)
Ürümqi-Dzungaria Railway
The Ürümqi-Dzungaria Railway or Wuzhun Railway is a single-track railway line in Xinjiang, China between Ürümqi, the regional capital of Xinjiang and the coal fields of the eastern Junggar Basin . The railway is 264 km in length and runs east from Ürümqi to Jiangjunmiao. The line opened in...
Railway, and the eastern terminus of the Northern Xinjiang (Beijiang)
Northern Xinjiang Railway
The Northern Xinjiang Railway or Beijiang Railway is a railway in Xinjiang, China between Urumqi, the regional capital of Xinjiang and Alashankou on the border with Kazakhstan...
and the Second Ürümqi-Jinghe Railway
Second Ürümqi-Jinghe Railway
The Second Ürümqi-Jinghe Railway or Wujing Line No. 2 is a double-track railway in Xinjiang, China between Ürümqi, the regional capital of Xinjiang and Jinghe...
. The Beijiang and the Lanxin Lines form part of the Trans-Eurasian Continental Railway
Eurasian Land Bridge
The Eurasian Land Bridge, sometimes called the New Silk Road, is a term used to describe the rail transport route for moving freight and passengers overland from Pacific seaports in Siberia and China to seaports in Europe...
, which runs from Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
through the Alataw Pass
Dzungarian Gate
The Dzungarian Gate is a geographically and historically significant mountain pass between China and Central Asia. It has been described as the "one and only gateway in the mountain-wall which stretches from Manchuria to Afghanistan, over a distance of three thousand miles." Given its association...
on the Kazkhstan border to Ürümqi and on to Lanzhou and Lianyungang
Lianyungang
Lianyungang is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China. It borders Yancheng to its southeast, Huai'an and Suqian to its south, Xuzhou to its southwest, and the province of Shandong to its north...
. There is also a high-speed rail line
Lanxin High-Speed Railway
The Lanzhou–Urumqi High-Speed Railway, also known as Lanxin Second Railway, is a high-speed rail under construction in northwestern China. It will connect Lanzhou in Gansu Province and Ürümqi in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region....
under construction, which is expected to connect Ürümqi with Xining
Xining
Xining is the capital of Qinghai province, People's Republic of China, and the largest city on the Tibetan Plateau. It has 2,208,708 inhabitants at the 2010 census whom 1,198,304 live in the built up area made of 4 urban districts.-History:...
and Lanzhou
Lanzhou
Lanzhou is the capital and largest city of Gansu Province in Northwest China. A prefecture-level city, it is a key regional transportation hub, allowing areas further west to maintain railroad connections to the eastern half of the country....
in 2014.
Road
- China National Highway 216China National Highway 216China National Highway 216 is a Highway in Xinjiang, China. It runs in the general southern direction from Altay City, Xinjiang to Baluntai , where it joins China National Highway 218. It is 857 kilometres in length....
- China National Highway 312China National Highway 312China National Highway 312 , also referred to as Route 312 or The Mother Road, is an important highway that runs east-west across the breadth of People's Republic of China. It begins at the port city Shanghai and ends at Khorgas in the Ili River valley, on the border with Kazakhstan. In total it...
- China National Highway 314China National Highway 314China National Highway 314 runs southwest from Urumqi, Xinjiang towards Khunjerab Pass, which is the on the northern border of Pakistan and the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China. It is 1948 kilometres in length....
.
Many roads North & West typically shut down rapidly in the early October period, remaining shut until winter breaks. Trains should remain operational.
Media
Xinjiang Networking Transmission Limited
Xinjiang Networking Transmission Limited consists of media broadcasting to Urumqi and the Xinjiang province area. It operates the Urumqi Ren Min Guangbo Dian Tai and the Xinjiang People Broadcasting Station, broadcasting in the Mandarin , Uyghur , Kazakh, Mongolian, and Kyrgyz languages.-External...
operates the Urumqi People's Broadcasting Station and the Xinjiang People's Broadcasting Station, broadcasting in the Mandarin, Uyghur
Uyghur language
Uyghur , formerly known as Eastern Turk, is a Turkic language with 8 to 11 million speakers, spoken primarily by the Uyghur people in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of Western China. Significant communities of Uyghur-speakers are located in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and various other...
, Kazakh
Kazakh language
Kazakh is a Turkic language which belongs to the Kipchak branch of the Turkic languages, closely related to Nogai and Karakalpak....
, Mongolian
Mongolian language
The Mongolian language is the official language of Mongolia and the best-known member of the Mongolic language family. The number of speakers across all its dialects may be 5.2 million, including the vast majority of the residents of Mongolia and many of the Mongolian residents of the Inner...
, Russian and the Kyrgyz
Kyrgyz language
Kyrgyz or Kirgiz, also Kirghiz, Kyrghiz, Qyrghiz is a Turkic language and, together with Russian, an official language of Kyrgyzstan...
languages.
The Xinjiang Television Station (XJTV), located in Urumqi, is the major TV broadcasting station in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The local television station for Urumqi city is Urumqi Television Station
Urumqi Television Station
Urumqi Television Station is a local television station in Ürümqi, Xinjiang, China. It was established in April, 1985 as a cable network and started broadcasting on September 28 in the same year...
(UTV)(乌鲁木齐电视台).
Sport
- Xinjiang Flying TigersXinjiang Flying TigersXinjiang Guanghui Flying Tigers or Xinjiang Flying Tigers or Xinjiang Guanghui are a basketball team in the Chinese Basketball Association, based in Ürümqi, Xinjiang. Its corporate sponsor is Xinjiang Guanghui Group, Ltd...
is a major basketball team in the region. - Xinjiang TicaiXinjiang TicaiXinjiang Ticai Football Club is a football club based in Xinjiang, China.-Manager:correct as：2009-Team Results:-External links:****...
is a local football team in the Chinese Football Association Yi LeagueChinese Football Association Yi LeagueChina League Two is the third tier league of the People's Republic of China. The league is under the auspices of the Chinese Football Association. Above the League Two is the premier league - the Chinese Super League and the League One.League Two has two groups, northern and southern...
Twin towns — Sister cities
Ürümqi is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
| City | Region | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Peshawar Peshawar Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan.... |
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |  Pakistan |
| Bishkek Bishkek Bishkek , formerly Pishpek and Frunze, is the capital and the largest city of Kyrgyzstan.Bishkek is also the administrative centre of Chuy Province which surrounds the city, even though the city itself is not part of the province but rather a province-level unit of Kyrgyzstan.The name is thought to... |
Chuy Province Chuy Province Chuy Province or Chui Province is the northernmost province of the Kyrgyz Republic. It is bounded on the north by Kazakhstan, and clockwise, Issyk Kul Province, Naryn Province, Jalal-Abad Province and Talas Province... |
 Kyrgyzstan |
| Almaty Almaty Almaty , also known by its former names Verny and Alma-Ata , is the former capital of Kazakhstan and the nation's largest city, with a population of 1,348,500... |
Almaty Almaty Almaty , also known by its former names Verny and Alma-Ata , is the former capital of Kazakhstan and the nation's largest city, with a population of 1,348,500... |
 Kazakhstan |
| Chelyabinsk Chelyabinsk Chelyabinsk is a city and the administrative center of Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, located in the northwestern side of the oblast, south of Yekaterinburg, just to the east of the Ural Mountains, on the Miass River. Population: -History:... |
 Chelyabinsk Oblast |
 Russia |
Almaty
Almaty
Almaty , also known by its former names Verny and Alma-Ata , is the former capital of Kazakhstan and the nation's largest city, with a population of 1,348,500...
is a state-level city of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...