Travel - China

Urumqi, Xinjiang by any measure, an area of frontier adventure and fun.

It can at the same time claim to be the driest, hottest, coldest and largest province of China. However, it is the unparalleled scenery, and cultural diversity, which has drawn explorers and travelers to this spectacular region.

Today, when you travel to Urumqi, Xinjiang, you will soon find it has become the new hotspot on the adventurer and tourist list... a must see place to visit within China.
It offers fantastic opportunities for those with an interest in nature, open spaces, deserts, mountain fresh air... all hoping to catch a glimpse of ancient but rapidly changing cultures and customs of the Silk Road.

To get to Urumqi you have to travel to the far Northwest of China, Xinjiang (New frontier in Chinese) is a massive region making up 16% of China's total land area.

Its two major deserts, the Taklamakan and the Gobi desert are separated by the mighty Tian Shan range, which stretches East-West unbroken for nearly 2,500km, bringing life sustaining water to the oasis towns and villages along its flanks.

In the Northern Altai region temperatures tend to be cooler than the south, and this is characterized by its amazing array of flowers and vegetation through this mountain region. Extremes range from 50°Celsius in the summer to -50°Celsius in the winter.
Being a place of such climatic extremes, it is this, that generally dictates when and what to do. When you come to see and travel Urumqi and Xinjiang, the local climate endures hot, dry summers, and cold dry winters, typical of its continental location. Spring and fall are shorter while summer and winter are quite long. If visitors can't stand the low temperature, the best time to travel to Urumqi and Xinjiang is from May to October.

Xinjiang has many inland rivers and only one, the Irtysh, flows to the sea. The worlds second highest mountain, K2 (8,511m), is situated on Xinjiang's southern border with Pakistan, and its lowest point, the Turpan depression (-154m) is also the second lowest place on earth.

Urumqi City, is the capital of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, China's most western province. The most "inland" city in the world and the furthest from any major body of water. Urumqi is 3,270 km from Beijing (a five-hour flight). With a population of one million, the city lies as a green-blanketed oasis amidst Xinjiang's barren and uninhabited deserts, lush green highlands, and the snowcapped peaks of the Tian Shan Mountains.

When coming to Urumqi you will find it is the main transport hub for the area, nearly all travelers will at least pass through this superficially typical Chinese city. Urumqi's new airport offers flights to many provincial capitals, strangely absent being Hong Kong. There are also regular connecting flights to most of the smaller cities spread across the region.
It is easy to travel Xinjiang by train as its on the main train line linking it to the rest of the country, and a new line stretches all the way to Kashgar, in the far South-West.

Urumqi, is blessed with an abundance of 4 and 5 star hotels. Having said that, rooms are at a premium in the summer months, and advance booking is always required at this time of year. At the backpacker end of the market, options are very limited with one IHA hostel.
Travelers cheques and American dollars are readily exchangeable at most 4/5 Star hotels, though withdrawing money on foreign debit cards still causes problems.

Culture

Officially, Xinjiang is home to 13 indigenous ethnic minorities, aside from Han who now make up approximately 50% of the population. The largest minorities are Uyghur, Kazak, and Hui.
It would be fair to say that each still maintain at least some of their traditional customs, and have strong identities with their respective ethnic groups, though all still share the Muslim faith.

A few of many things to see and do

Urumqi / Xinjiang is a paradise for those with a passion for adventure and activities include trekking, climbing, white-water rafting, cycle touring, skiing, paraponting, or camel- trekking.
For those less energetic there are possibilities to visit mountain lakes, explore ancient cities in the desert, or try to catch a glimpse of one of more that 50 endangered animal species indigenous to Xinjiang, including the fabled Snow Leopard and Przewalski Horse.

• Xinjiang Regional Museum
  Any trip to Xinjiang should include a visit here, the resting place of "Loulan beauty" and several other ancient but very well preserved mummies. Lying buried for nearly 4,000 years, their recent discovery continues to cause controversy as to whom the first inhabitants of Xinjiang really were...

• Tian Chi (Heaven Lake)
  As eulogized in Vikram Seth's "From Heaven Lake" Tian Chi is for some an object lesson in all that is wrong with modern Chinese tourist development. Having said that, the lake and surrounding scenery itself are stunning, and a stroll into the hills is well rewarded.
• Jiaohe
  The ancient city of Jiaohe was constructed from compressed earth and brick more than 2,000 years ago. It remained an important political and trading centre for more than 1,000 years. Situated on a plateau at the confluence of two rivers, Jiaohe remains the best preserved ancient earthen city in the world.

• Altai region
  Known as "The Jewel in the crown" of Xinjiang, the Altai mountains feature China's only expanse of Spruce forest, and is studded with pristine alpine lakes. The most famous is known as Kanas, or Hanasi. The region is still home to nomadic Kazaks, who can be seen in the summer pasturing their herds of camels in the lush mountain meadows. A fantastic place for trekking, either by foot or on horseback. Take your camera as the alpine meadows and aquamarine lakes are stunning.
• The great deserts
  The Gobi and the Taklamakan, though both deserts are very different in nature.
  The Taklamakan is what most people imagine a desert to be. Massive expanses of mountainous dunes stretching as far as the eye can see. Though the Taklamakan is an inferno in summer, in winter you may be lucky enough to witness snow blanketing the dunes, a uniquely odd experience. A great opportunity for camel trekking and exploring, it is here that lay many ancient Silk Road cities, and many more still undiscovered.
  The Gobi desert by contrast is a land of diversity and life. Home to Kazak camel herders and many rare species of plant and animal life, the Gobi was once a lush primordial forest. One is rewarded by expansive views of both desert and mountain, and near the border with Mongolia lay intricate multicolored canyons and geothermal hot springs.

• Food
  Famed throughout China for its variety of sweet fruit, Xinjiang is also the place to try local Uyghur specialties such as spiced kebabs, Lahman, and Nan. Those of you with a more robust palate there is also Kazak cheese, and fermented mare's milk.

For those with a spirit of adventure or an interest in ancient culture and customs, Urumqi and Xinjiang offer unparalleled opportunities.

Now is the time to come, even in this remote part of China, things are developing rapidly, as China's economic growth continues at an amazing speed. Lifestyles that have been unchanged for thousands of years are changing.