Xinjiang · China
Where to stay in Ürümqi
Ürümqi is a city in Xinjiang, China, home to about 4,054,000 people.
- Best months
- May, June and September
- Nearest airport
- URC15 km · Ürümqi Tianshan International Airport
- Currency
- CNYrenminbi
- Time zone
- Asia/Urumqi
- Language
- Chinese, Putonghua, Standard Chinese
About
About Ürümqi
Ürümqi is the capital and largest city of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in Northwestern China. With a census population of 4,054,000 in 2020, Ürümqi is the second-largest city in China's northwestern interior after Xi'an.
The name Ürümqi comes from Mongolian, meaning "great", a short form of the full Mongolian name meaning "great pasture", as the Mongols were the last major power to control the area prior to the Qing conquest. Following the Qing conquest, the city was named "Dihua" (迪化 lit. "to enlighten and civilize") by Emperor Qianlong, a name which stuck even through the Republic of China era. Following the communist revolution, the new People's Republic of China government changed the name back to Ürümqi in 1954, as "Dihua" was deemed too condescending to the ethnic minorities in the region.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Ürümqi
See
- Geographical midpoint of Asia monument
- Grand Bazaar
- Red Mountain Park
- People's Park
- People's Square
- Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Museum
- Shuimogou Park
- Confucian Temple
- Liyushan Park
- Erdaoqiao Folk Instrument Maker Visit
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Ürümqi to stay in
Due to the city special regulations, most of the hotels, especially the cheap ones, don't accept foreigners. Walk-in can be considerably difficult and disappointing. It is strongly advised to research a foreigner-accepting hotel before arriving in the city.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Ürümqi
6 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Xinjiang Kunlun Hotel | 1960 | 2.5 km |
| Sheraton Urumqi Hotel | 2.1 km | |
| Chenmao Yilite Hotel (Urumqi South Railway Station Wanda) | 3.4 km | |
| Jin Jiang International Hotel Urumqi | 0.7 km | |
| Northwest Petroleum Hotel | 7.0 km | |
| Wanda Vista Urumqi | 7.5 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Ürümqi
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Ürümqi are May, June and September. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C; June is the wettest, with about 36 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Ürümqi: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Ürümqi Tianshan International Airport (URC), about 15 km from the city centre in a straight line; Turpan Jiaohe Airport (TLQ, 149 km) is also within reach.
Getting around
The city center is big, and separated into different 'centers'. You can walk, but distances are large, roads are wide, and ongoing building work will block your path. Furthermore, in summer it gets very hot and in winter it can drop to -35°C (-31°F) at night. The northern section (from the international airport to Balou) of the first line of the Urumqi Metro has just been opened. You must show ID to ride. All signs and announcements are trilingual in Chinese, Uyghur and English.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
URC · Ürümqi Tianshan International Airport
TLQ · Turpan Jiaohe Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Ürümqi
Eat
Food is one of the things that Xinjiang is famous for. Fresh naan, spicy kebabs, steaming pilaf, or famous hand stretched noodles — there are a lot of choices, and lots of variety.
Stay safe
Urumqi is generally safe. Pickpockets occasionally operate in the bigger bazaars and on public transportation so avoid flaunting valuables. Ethnic tensions between the Uyghurs and Han Chinese – such as in 2009 when riots broke out in the city – has resulted in a large police and military presence in Urumqi, especially near government buildings and tourist sites. Metal detectors and bag x-ray machines are placed at the entrances to most publicly-accessible buildings and tourist attractions (although whether they are actually used is a different story). Police may be more inquisitive of visible foreigners, who are not a common sight in Urumqi.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Ürümqi: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Ürümqi?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Ürümqi are May, June and September. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C; June is the wettest, with about 36 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Ürümqi?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Ürümqi Tianshan International Airport (URC), about 15 km from the city centre in a straight line; Turpan Jiaohe Airport (TLQ, 149 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Ürümqi?
renminbi (CNY).
Nearby
Destinations near Ürümqi
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.