Urumqi Facts

Overview
Urumqi, commonly known as Wu city, is an important central city in Northwest China and an international trade center facing central Asia and West Asia. Located in the northwest of China, the middle of Xinjiang and the center of Asia Europe continent, Urumqi is the political, economic, cultural, scientific, educational and transportation center of Xinjiang, the largest city in the world that is furthest from the ocean, and listed in the Guinness world record book. It is the largest city (2500 km) in the world that is the most inland, farthest from the sea and coastline.

Basic Information
Dialing code: (+86) 0991
Zip code: 830000
Area: Xinjiang has an area of 14216.3 square kilometres
Main attractions in Xinjiang: Xinjiang Regional Museum, Tianshan Mountains, Heavenly Lake, Glacier No.1, Red Hill Park, ect. 
Population: about 3.5 Million

Administration
Urumqi has seven municipal districts and one county under its jurisdiction, including Tianshan District, Shaibak District, Xinshi District, Shuimogou District, Toutunhe District, Dabancheng District, Midong district and Urumqi county.

Location
Urumqi is located in the northwest of China, the middle of Xinjiang, the hinterland of Eurasia, the northern foot of North Tianshan Mountain and the south of Junggar basin.

Climate
Urumqi is the city farthest from the ocean in the world, with a dry climate in the middle temperate continent. The hottest is July and August, with an average temperature of 25.7 ?; The coldest is January, with an average temperature of - 15.2 ?.

History
The area first came under full Chinese control in the 7th and 8th centuries, when the Chinese established the protectorate general of Beiting some 80 miles (130 km) to the east. A county named Luntai had earlier been founded at ürümqi in 640, which became an important centre for caravans traveling into the Ili River valley from the main route across Turkistan. After the withdrawal of the Tang dynasty (618–907) from the area in the 750s, ürümqi came under the control of the Uighurs. It again came under Chinese rule during the campaigns of the Qing dynasty against the Dzungars in the 18th century. In 1760 military colonies were established in the surrounding oases, and in 1763 a Chinese city called Dihua was founded there.

The city became an important Manchu garrison for northwestern China. When Muslim rebellion broke out in Xinjiang in the 1860s, ürümqi was taken by the rebels in 1864, but it was eventually recaptured in 1876 by Qing forces under Zuo Zongtang. When the province of Xinjiang was set up in 1884, ürümqi (Dihua) became its capital. It grew rapidly into the greatest city and centre of trade in Central Asia. Its commercial importance was matched in the last days of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911/12) by its growing strategic and international significance as the British and Russians each attempted to establish influence in Xinjiang.

Features
1. The hub of an exotic and vast frontier territory.
2. Beautiful natural scenery and intriguing ancient remains.
3. One of the deepest and hottest basins on earth at Turpan.

Religions
In history, Xinjiang has always been a region where many religions coexist. By the middle of the 20th century, there were six religions in Xinjiang, namely Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, Christianity (Protestantism) and orthodox. Uygur, Kazak, Hui, Kirgiz, Uzbek, Tajik, Tatar and other seven ethnic groups generally believe in Islam, some of the Han, Mongolian, Xibe, Daur and other ethnic groups believe in Buddhism (including Tibetan Buddhism), and some of the Han people believe in Taoism, Catholicism and Christianity.