Three Great Things to do in Urumqi
Urumqi can be dirty, crowded, and lacking the majestic desert moonscapes that characterize the rest of the region. Nevertheless, there are a few good reasons to stick around for a couple of days before embarking on a train or bus to Kashgar, Turpan, and elsewhere:
1) The provincial museum. This is far and away the most interesting museums I’ve been to in China. The entire museum is dedicated to Xinjiang’s own unique history, and serves as an excellent primer before you set off for the rest of the province. The second floor has an impressive collection of Tarim Basin mummies, and seeing some of the artifacts on display may slightly adjust your trip itinerary. The museum was built in 1953 and was recently renovated and expanded. The facility houses more than 50,000 items and artifacts;
The exhibition relating to folk customs includes costumes, tools and every day necessities. Together they vividly illustrate for us the dress, lifestyle, religion, marriage customs, festivals and other aspects of the colorful life of the 12 minorities that live in Xinjiang;
2) The bazaar. While not as fantastic as Kashgar’s or large and diffuse as Hetian’s, the Urumqi bazaar has its own character. Unlike the other major bazaars in the province, this one is truly urban — many of the vendors set up shop in alley ways, and the whole market space feels labyrinthine. There are two “bazaars”: the “real” bazaar (where the locals shop), and the tourist bazaar, just across the street. I would spend most of my time in the former — the latter looks like a cheap replica of a sultanate palace, equipped with a Carrefour and KFC, and mostly cater to those looking for cheap swords and other trinkets manufactured in Eastern China!
3) The food. One of the advantages of being in Urumqi is the “cosmopolitan” environment. There are several large expat groups from neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan and Russia, with concomitant restaurants and shops. The Uighur and Kazakh food is cheap and often delicious.
