Urumqi is the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with a population of 950,000. Urumqi means "beautiful pastureland" in Mongolian language. Originally called Dihua, it was renamed Urumqi in 1953.
  Urumqi engages the interests of visitors for many its scenic spots and historic sites and the northwest frontier scenery. Red Hill, so named, because of its red rock formation, located in the city proper. It was the very pale where the Qing government once had its courier post.

  On the top of the hill towers a nice-story Conquering Dragon Pagoda. Jianhu Lake is another tourist attraction. On its banks stand the Yuewei Cottage, Chaoyang Pavilion and Jianhu Pavilion. Yanerwo in the southern suburb of Urumqi backs on to a hill and faces a river. Local people describe it as a "beautiful horse race ground". Heavenly Pool on the Tianshan Mountains, known as Jade Pool, is an alpine lake, 120 kilometres east of Urumqi.

  Formed of the Greater and Lesser Heavenly Pools it stays 1,950 metres high above sea level. Lesser Heavenly Pool is as smooth as a mirror and as pretty as a jade. Legend has it that Heavenly Mother once took a bath here. Greater Heavenly Pool stretching three kilometres from south to north is surrounded by mountains to give a scene of towering pine trees, lakeside villas and pavilions.

  In East Hill there are the Temple of Heavenly Mother and a waterfall with a drop of 100 metres. Jiaohe old city located in the western suburb of present-day Turfan and Gaochang old city in the east of the city were originally two important cities on the ancient Silk Road. Ancient Ahsitana tombs are situated northwest of Gaochang City, with 500-some tombs dating from the Western Jin to middle Tang (273--772).

  A dry weather and germless environment; have protected the corpses and burial articles from bacterial decay. With a great amount of precious cultural relics and murals, these tombs are a rare underground museum known to the world. Tourists are welcome to be guests and enjoy tent life at homes of the Uygurs or take part in their horse race.
  Urumqi is served by scheduled trains and passenger planes to Beijing, Xi'an and Lanzhou. The major hotels to serve tourists are the Xinjiang Friendship Hotel, Kunlun Hotel, Urumqi Hotel, Tianshan Mansion, Bogda Hotel, Overseas Chinese Hotel and Xinjiang Hotel in Urumqi. Grapes special to Turfan and sweet melons of Hami are world famous.