View source for Ürümqi

{{Short description|Capital and largest city of Xinjiang, China}}
{{About|the city|the county|Ürümqi County}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Ürümqi
| official_name      = <!-- Official name in English if different from 'name' -->
| native_name        = {{native name list |tag1=zh-hans |name1=乌鲁木齐市 |tag2=ug |name2=ئۈرۈمچى شەھىرى}}
| other_name         = Urumqi, Urumchi, Dihua, Tihwa
| settlement_type    = [[Prefecture-level city]]
| motto              = 
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border             = infobox
| total_width        = 290
| perrow             = 1/2/2
| image1             = Urumqi Skyline July 2019.jpg
| alt1               = Urumqi skyline
| caption1           = Ürümqi skyline

| image2             = Urumqi s bazzar.jpg
| alt2               = Urumqi's bazzar
| caption2           = Ürümqi Night Market in the [[Grand Bazaar (Ürümqi)|Grand Bazaar]]

| image3             = Hong Shan.jpg
| alt3               = Hong Shan
| caption3           = Red Mountain ([[Hong Shan]])

| image4             = 乌鲁木齐人民公园封面.jpg
| caption4           = [[People's Park (Ürümqi)|People's Park]]

| image5             = People's Square of Urumqi 1.jpg
| caption5           = [[People's Square (Ürümqi)|People's Square]]
}}
| etymology          = From the [[Oirat language]], meaning "beautiful pasture"{{sfn|Wiens|1963|p=447}} or from the [[Old Uyghur]] "Yürüng-chin" — "White Garrison"{{sfn|Matsui|2013|p=427–432}}
| image_map          = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|type=shape|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=6}}
| image_map1         = China Xinjiang Ürümqi.svg
| map_caption1       = City limits of Ürümqi (red) in Xinjiang (orange)
| pushpin_map        = China Xinjiang
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of the city center in Xinjiang
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = China
| subdivision_type1  = [[Autonomous regions of China|Autonomous region]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Xinjiang]]
| subdivision_name2  = 
| subdivision_type3  = [[Administrative divisions of China#County level|County-level divisions]]
| subdivision_name3  = 8
| seat_type          = Municipal seat
| seat               = [[Shuimogou District]]
| government_type    = [[Prefecture-level city]]
| governing_body     = [[Ürümqi Municipal People's Congress]]
| leader_title       = [[Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary|CCP Secretary]]
| leader_name        = [[Zhang Zhu (born 1968)|Zhang Zhu]]
| leader_title1      = [[Ürümqi Municipal People's Congress|Congress]] Chairman
| leader_name1       = Ahmetjan Ahniyaz
| leader_title2      = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name2       = Yahefu Paidula
| leader_title3      = [[Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference|CPPCC]] Chairman
| leader_name3       = Yun Shuxia
| unit_pref          = <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired-->
| area_footnotes     = <!-- ([[List of China administrative regions by area|ranked 29th]]) -->
| area_total_km2     = 14577
| area_urban_km2     = 583<!--ALL
 fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion-->
| area_land_km2      = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion-->
| elevation_m        = 860
| population_est     = 4,054,000
| pop_est_as_of      = 2020
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="2020 census">{{cite web |title=乌鲁木齐一年人口净增50万，得益于以下几个方面 |url=https://new.qq.com/omn/20210614/20210614A05WEI00.html |access-date=2 May 2022 |archive-date=2 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502113954/https://new.qq.com/omn/20210614/20210614A05WEI00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| population_as_of   = 2020 census
| population_total   = 4,054,000
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1 = Demographics
| demographics1_title1 = [[List of ethnic groups in China|Major ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1 = {{ubl|74.9% [[Han Chinese]]|25.1% [[Uyghurs]]}}
| demographics_type2 = GDP<ref name="data2022">{{Cite web|date=14 March 2023|title=乌鲁木齐市2022年国民经济和社会发展统计公报|url=http://www.tjcn.org/tjgb/31xj/37443.html|access-date=7 January 2024|language=zh}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = [[Prefecture-level city]]
| demographics2_info1 = [[CN¥]] 389.3 billion<br />[[US$]] 57.9 billion
| demographics2_title2 = Per capita
| demographics2_info2 = CN¥ 95,511<br />US$ 14,200
| timezone           = ''[[De jure]]'': [[China Standard Time|China Standard]] ([[UTC+08:00]])<br/>''[[De facto]]'': Both [[China Standard Time|China Standard]] ([[UTC+08:00]]) and [[Xinjiang Time|Ürümqi Time]] ([[UTC+06:00]])
| coor_pinpoint      = Ürümqi municipal government
| coordinates        = {{coord|43|49|21|N|87|36|45|E|type:adm2nd_region:CN-65|display=it}}
| elevation_footnotes = 
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal code of China|Postal code]]
| postal_code        = 830000
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in China|Area code]]
| area_code          = 991
| iso_code           = [[ISO 3166-2:CN|CN-XJ-01]]
| website            = [http://www.urumqi.gov.cn/ www.urumqi.gov.cn] {{in lang|zh}}
| footnotes          = 
| blank4_name_sec2   = [[License Plate (China)|License plate prefixes]]
| blank4_info_sec2   = {{lang|zh-cn|新A}}
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| order = st
| pic = Urumqi (Chinese and Uighur).svg
| piccap = "Ürümqi" in [[Simplified Chinese characters|Simplified Chinese]] (top), [[Traditional Chinese characters|Traditional Chinese]] (middle) and [[Uyghur Arabic alphabet|Uyghur Arabic]] (bottom) scripts
| picupright = 0.8
| s = {{linktext|乌鲁木齐}}
| t = {{linktext|烏魯木齊}}
| p = Wūlǔmùqí
| w = Wu<sup>1</sup>-lu<sup>3</sup>-mu<sup>4</sup>-ch{{wg-apos}}i<sup>2</sup>
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|wu|1|.|l|u|3|.|m|u|4|.|q|i|2}}
| bpmf = {{bpmfsp|ㄨ|ㄌㄨˇ|ㄇㄨˋ|ㄑㄧˊ}}
| gr = Uluumuhchyi
| j = Wu1lou5muk6cai4
| y = Wūlóuhmuhkchàih
| ci = {{IPAc-yue|w|u|1|.|l|ou|5|.|m|uk|6|.|c|ai|4}}
| psp = Urumtsi
| altname = Abbreviation
| psp2 = 
| s2 = {{linktext|乌市}}
| t2 = {{linktext|烏市}}
| p2 = Wūshì
| w2 = {{Tone superscript|Wu1-shih4}}
| bpmf2 = {{bpmfsp|ㄨ|ㄕˋ}}
| gr2 = Ushyh
| mi2 = {{IPAc-cmn|wu|1|.|shi|4}}
| altname3 = Former name
| c3 = {{linktext|lang=zh|迪化}}
| p3 = Díhuà
| psp3 = Tihwa
| w3 = Ti<sup>2</sup>-hua<sup>4</sup>
| bpmf3 = {{bpmfsp|ㄉㄧˊ|ㄏㄨㄚˋ}}
| gr3 = Dyihuah
| mi3 = {{IPAc-cmn|d|i|2|.|h|ua|4}}
| l3 = to enlighten and civilize
| showflag = p
| mon = Өрөмч
| mong = ᠥᠷᠥᠮᠴᠢ
| uig = {{Script|Arab|ئۈرۈمچى}}
| uly = Ürümchi
| uyy = Ürümqi
| sgs = Ürümqi
| usy = Үрүмчи
| uipa = {{IPA|ug|ʏrʏmˈtʃi|}}
| lang1 = Kazakh
| lang1_content = {{unbulleted list|{{lang|kk-Arab|ٷرىمجى}}|{{transliteration|kk|Ürimji}}|{{lang|kk|Үрімжі}}}}
| lang2 = Kyrgyz
| lang2_content = {{unbulleted list|{{lang|ky-Arab|ۉرۉمچۉ}}|{{lang|ky|Үрүмчү}}|{{Transliteration|ky|Ürümçü}}}}
}}
{{Contains special characters|Uyghur}}

'''Ürümqi'''{{efn|{{bulleted list|{{IPAc-en|audio=Ürümqi English pronunciation.mp3|ʊ|ˈ|r|ʊ|m|tʃ|i}} {{respell|uu|RUUM|chee}};<ref>{{cite web|title=Urumqi|url=https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/urumqi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829074138/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/urumqi|archive-date=29 August 2017|website=Oxford Living Dictionaries – English|access-date=29 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{MW|Urumqi}}</ref> also spelled '''Urumqi''' or '''Urumchi'''|{{lang-zh|s=乌鲁木齐|p=Wūlǔmùqí}}; [[abbr.]] {{lang-zh|s=乌市|p=Wūshì|labels=no}}|{{langx|ug|ئۈرۈمچى|Ürümchi}}, {{IPA|ug|ʏrʏmˈtʃi|pron}}}}}} is the capital and largest city of the [[Xinjiang|Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region]] in [[Northwestern China]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Illuminating China's Provinces, Municipalities and Autonomous Regions|url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/43608.htm|publisher=PRC Central Government Official Website|access-date=17 May 2014|archive-date=2 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702055321/http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/43608.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> With a census population of 4 million in 2020, Ürümqi is the second-largest city in China's northwestern interior after [[Xi'an]], and the second-largest in [[Central Asia]] in terms of population, after [[Kabul]], [[Afghanistan]]. Ürümqi has seen significant economic development since the 1990s and currently serves as a [[List of transport topics#Nodes|regional transport node]] and a cultural, political and commercial center.

== Etymology ==
The name Ürümqi ({{IPA|xal|yrəm t͡ʃə|lang}}) comes from the [[Oirat language|Oirat]] words {{transliteration|xal|ürü}} and {{transliteration|xal|mchi}}, together meaning "beautiful pasture".{{sfn|Wiens|1963|p=447}} It was originally the name of a small town founded by the Oirat-speaking [[Dzungar people|Dzungars]].{{sfn|Gaubatz|1996|pp=70–72}}

The [[Qing dynasty]] took Ürümqi in 1755, during [[Dzungar–Qing Wars|its conquest]] of the [[Dzungar Khanate]].{{sfn|Millward|2007|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=8FVsWq31MtMC&pg=PA99 99]}} Qing people expanded the town into a walled city from 1763 to 1767,{{sfn|Gaubatz|1996|pp=70–72}} and upon completing the expansion renamed the city '''Dihua''' ({{lang-zh|c=迪化|links=no}}; [[Chinese postal romanization|previously romanized]] as '''Tihwa'''), meaning "to enlighten and civilize".<ref name="Holdstock">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hGlsCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA23 |title=China's Forgotten People: Xinjiang, Terror and the Chinese State |first=Nick |last=Holdstock |publisher=I.B.Tauris |date=30 May 2015 |isbn=978-1-78453-140-9 |access-date=29 August 2020 |archive-date=1 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001173523/https://books.google.com/books?id=hGlsCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA23 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Zhao">{{cite journal |jstor = 20062627 | doi = 10.1177/0097700405282349 |title=Reinventing China Imperial Qing Ideology and the Rise of Modern Chinese National Identity in the Early Twentieth Century|journal= Modern China |last1= Zhao |first1=Gang |volume= 32 |pages= 3–30 |number=1 |date= January 2006| s2cid = 144587815 }}</ref>

The [[Chinese Communist Party]] restored the name "Ürümqi" on 1 February 1954, believing Dihua to be a belittling and [[Han chauvinism|ethnically chauvinist]] name.{{sfn|Wiens|1963|p=447}}

According to the Japanese Turkologist Dai Matsui, the name “Urumchi” may have originated from the [[Old Uyghur]] word yürüng (“white, bright”) combined with the Chinese element chin (镇 zhèn, “fortified post, garrison”). Matsui notes that during the [[Tang dynasty]], there was a garrison called Bai-shui-zhen (白水鎮, “White Water”) along the route from [[Turpan|Turfan]] toward the area of modern Urumchi. In this context, the Chinese bai (“white”) could correspond to the Uyghur yürüng with the same meaning, while zhen (“garrison, fort”) was rendered as chin. Thus, an Old Uyghur toponym “Yürüng-chin” could have developed, which over time evolved into the modern form “Ürümchi".{{sfn|Matsui|2013|p=427–432}}

As further evidence supporting this hypothesis, Matsui points to Old Uyghur documents from the 14th century in which the toponym “Yürüngchin” is attested.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vér |first=Márton |date=2016 |title=The postal system of the Mongol Empire in northeastern Turkestan |url=https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=hu&user=kP4DzoEAAAAJ&citation_for_view=kP4DzoEAAAAJ:Tyk-4Ss8FVUC |access-date=2025-10-22 |website=scholar.google.com}}</ref>

== History ==
{{more citations needed|section|date=August 2022}}

=== Early period ===
During prehistory, the site of the future Ürümqi was occupied by a nomadic people known in Chinese accounts as the [[Jushi Kingdom|Jushi]], who lived mainly on the northern slopes of the surrounding [[Tian Shan|Tianshan Mountains]]. The Jushi are often regarded as likely precursors of the [[Tocharian people]]s, who later established city states in the [[Tarim Basin]], south of the present site of Ürümqi.

The oldest known settlement, a town called ''Urabo'' (Chinese: Wulabo), was located about {{convert|10|km||abbr=off}} from the southern suburbs of the present-day Ürümqi.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

[[Han Chinese]] states, located to the east, exerted increasing control of the Tarim Basin. Under the name '''Luntai''', the city was founded by the [[Tang dynasty|Tang]] government, in 648 CE, the 22nd year of [[Emperor Taizong of Tang|Emperor Taizong]]'s reign, as part of the [[Protectorate General to Pacify the West]].<ref name=chinatoday>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/English/chinatours/urumqi.htm |title=Urumqi |publisher=Chinatoday.com.cn |date=1 February 1954 |access-date=19 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021021001913/http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/English/chinatours/urumqi.htm |archive-date=21 October 2002 }}</ref> It was a seat of local government and collected taxes from the [[caravan (travellers)|caravans]] along the northern route of the Silk Road.<ref name=chinatoday />

After the Tang retreated from the [[Western Regions]], the region came under the control of the [[Uyghurs]] of the [[Uyghur Khaganate|Khaganate]] and [[Gaochang]] / [[Qocho]]. There is little information about the Ürümqi area during the time between the Tang and Qing dynasties, and researchers believe that there were no permanent settlements there for most of this period. The Mongols referred to the wider area as [[Beshbalik|Bishbalik]], meaning five cities, a reference to the five towns that surrounded the present-day Ürümqi area.{{sfn|Gaubatz|1996|pp=70–72}}

===Dzungar period===
The [[Oirat language|Oirat]]-speaking [[Dzungar people|Dzungar]] tribes that formed the [[Dzungar Khanate]] were the last major power to control Ürümqi before the Manchus gained control of Xinjiang. During the [[Ming dynasty]], there was a record of a place at Jiujiawan {{convert|5|km||abbr=off}} to the west of present Ürümqi, which may have been the Dzungar town that was later destroyed during the Qing conquest. The Mongolians also used the area as herding ground in this period.{{sfn|Gaubatz|1996|pp=70–72}} Steppe peoples had used the location, the pass between the [[Bogda Shan]] to the east and the [[Tian Shan]] to the west, connecting the [[Dzungaria|Dzungar Basin]] to the north and the [[Turpan Depression]] to the south.

Ürümqi remained a small town of lesser importance than the [[oasis]] and Silk Road trade center [[Turpan]] {{convert|200|km|abbr=on}} to the southeast. Fighting for the control of Dzungaria led to the [[Khoshut|Khoshuuts]] (now classified as Mongols) leaving Ürümqi for [[Qinghai]] and [[Tibet]] in the 1620s and 1630s.{{sfn|Millward|2007|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=8FVsWq31MtMC&pg=PA89 89]}} The Uyghurs were introduced into the Ürümqi area in the 18th century by the Dzungars who moved them from the west [[Tarim Basin|Tarim region]] to be ''taranchis'' or farmers in Ürümqi.{{sfn|Millward|2007|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=8FVsWq31MtMC&pg=PA93 92–93]}}

===Qing rule===
In the 18th century, the Qing went to war against the [[Dzungar Khanate]]. Ürümqi was taken by the Qing in 1755, and the Dzungars of the region were eliminated in the [[Dzungar genocide]]. One writer, [[Wei Yuan]], described the resulting desolation in what became northern Xinjiang as "an empty plain for a thousand ''[[Li (unit)|li]]'', with no trace of man". A fort was built (either in 1755 or 1758 depending on sources), and the Qing then established garrisons of [[Manchu people|Manchu]] and Mongol [[Eight Banners|bannermen]] and Han Chinese troops at Ürümqi.{{sfn|Millward|2007|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=8FVsWq31MtMC&pg=PA99 99]}} After 1759, the Qing government established state farms in the under-populated areas around Ürümqi, where there was fertile, well-watered land.{{sfn|Millward|2007|pp=95, 104}} Manchu soldiers also constructed a temple with red walls dedicated to [[Guan Yu|Guandi]] on Pingding mountain overlooking Ürümqi, which gave Ürümqi the nickname "Red Temple".{{sfn|Gaubatz|1996|pp=70–72}}

The Manchus began to construct a walled city in 1763 to the south of the first fort, and it was completed in 1767.{{sfn|Gaubatz|1996|pp=70–72}} The [[Qianlong Emperor]] named the new settlement "Dihua" ({{lang-zh|c=迪化|p=Díhuà|links=no}}; [[Manchu language|Manchu]]: ''Wen de dahabure fu''), meaning "to enlighten and civilize".<ref name="Holdstock"/><ref name="Zhao"/> In 1771, another city named Gongning Cheng ({{lang|zh-hant|鞏寧城}}) was built nearby to the northwest to house Manchu bannermen, and this would become the seat of government.{{sfn|Gaubatz|1996|pp=70–72}} The bannermen settlement to the west was commonly referred to as "Mancheng" ({{lang-zh|labels=no|t=滿城 |l=Manchu City}}), while Dihua to the east became a Han Chinese town commonly called "Hancheng" ({{lang-zh|labels=no|t=漢城 |l=Han City}}).<ref name="jeong">{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UgOwDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT1857 |title=The Silk Road Encyclopedia |author=Jeong Su-il |chapter=Urumqi |isbn=978-1-62412-076-3 |date=18 July 2016 |publisher=Seoul Selection |access-date=18 September 2016 |archive-date=9 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109085805/https://books.google.com/books?id=UgOwDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT1857 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Ürümqi of the early period was therefore a [[Twin cities|twin-city]], with Gongning Cheng forming the administrative center while Dihua grew into Xinjiang's commercial and financial center.{{sfn|Millward|1998|pp=131–134}}

Han Chinese from all over China moved into Dihua, as did Chinese [[Hui people|Hui Muslims]] from [[Gansu]] and [[Shaanxi]].{{sfn|Millward|1998|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=7ir2CAAAQBAJ&pg=PA133 133]}} The origin of Hui in Ürümqi is often indicated by the names of their mosques.{{sfn|Millward|1998|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=MC6sAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA169 169]}} By 1762, more than 500 shops had already been opened by Chinese migrants to the area of modern-day Ürümqi.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}} Those Qing literati who visited Dihua were impressed by its cultural sophistication and similarity to eastern China. The writer [[Ji Yun]] compared Dihua to Beijing, in that both had numerous wine shops which offered daily performances of Chinese music and dance.<ref>{{cite web |title=Whose Xinjiang? The Transition in Chinese Intellectuals' Imagination of the "New Dominion" During the Qing Dynasty |website=Harvard-Yenching Institute |first=Jianfei|last=Jia|year=2011|url=https://www.harvard-yenching.org/wp-content/uploads/legacy_files/featurefiles/Jia%20Jianfei_Whose%20Xinjiang.pdf|access-date=8 December 2020|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116170758/https://www.harvard-yenching.org/wp-content/uploads/legacy_files/featurefiles/Jia%20Jianfei_Whose%20Xinjiang.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1870, the [[Battle of Ürümqi (1870)|Battle of Ürümqi]] took place between the Turkic Muslim forces of [[Yakub Beg of Yettishar|Yaqub Beg]] against the [[Hui people|Dungan Muslim]] forces of Tuo Ming (Daud Khalifa). With the help of Xu Xuegong's Han Chinese militia, Yaqub Beg's forces defeated the Dungans.{{sfn|Millward|2007|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=8FVsWq31MtMC&pg=PA119 119–120]}}<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AtduqAtBzegC&pg=PA96|title=Holy War in China: the Muslim rebellion and state in Chinese Central Asia, 1864–1877|author=Ho-dong Kim|year=2004|publisher=Stanford University Press|location=Stanford, Calif.|page=96|isbn=978-0-8047-4884-1|access-date=28 June 2010|archive-date=9 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109075121/https://books.google.com/books?id=AtduqAtBzegC&pg=PA96|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pEfWaxPhdnIC&pg=PA224|title=Late Ch'ing, 1800–1911|author1=John King Fairbank|author-link1=John K. Fairbank|author-link2=Kwang-Ching Liu|author2=Kwang-ching Liu|author3=Denis Crispin Twitchett|year=1980|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge, UK|isbn=978-0-521-22029-3|pages=223–224|access-date=28 June 2010|archive-date=1 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401090934/https://books.google.com/books?id=pEfWaxPhdnIC&pg=PA224|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/modernizationofi00blac |url-access=registration |title=The Modernization of Inner Asia|author1=Cyril E. Black |author2=Louis Dupree |author3=Elizabeth Endicott-West |author4=Eden Naby |year=1991|publisher=M. E. Sharpe|isbn=978-0-87332-779-4|page=[https://archive.org/details/modernizationofi00blac/page/45 45]|access-date=28 November 2010}}</ref> Gongning Cheng was captured, its Qing administrator killed, and the city burnt to the ground and abandoned.{{sfn|Gaubatz|1996|p=72}} The Qing later regained control of Ürümqi. In 1884, the [[Guangxu Emperor]] established [[Xinjiang]] as a province, with Dihua as its capital.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/620188/Urumqi/278262/History |title=Online Encyclopædia Britannica |publisher=Britannica.com |date=31 January 2007 |access-date=19 February 2010 |archive-date=3 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503151028/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/620188/Urumqi/278262/History |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Republican era===
After the collapse of the Qing dynasty, Xinjiang was ruled from Ürümqi by a succession of warlords: [[Yang Zengxin]] (1911–1928), [[Jin Shuren]] (1928–1933), [[Sheng Shicai]] (1933–1942), and [[Zhang Zhizhong]] (1942–1949) as governor of Xinjiang. Of these, Yang and Sheng were considered capable rulers.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XuvqBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA166 |title=Xinjiang: China's Muslim Borderland |first=Calla |last=Wiener |editor=S. Frederick Starr |pages=166–167 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-45137-2 |date=4 March 2015 |access-date=18 September 2016 |archive-date=9 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109075232/https://books.google.com/books?id=XuvqBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA166 |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the [[Kumul Rebellion]], the [[Battle of Ürümqi (1933)|First Battle of Ürümqi]] and the [[Battle of Ürümqi (1933–34)|Second Battle of Ürümqi]] took place between the forces of [[Ma Zhongying]]'s [[36th Division (National Revolutionary Army)]] and [[Jin Shuren]] and [[Sheng Shicai]]'s provincial forces. At the second battle, Ma was assisted by the Han Chinese General [[Zhang Peiyuan]].

===People's Republic era===
On 1 February 1954, following the [[Proclamation of the People's Republic of China|founding of the People's Republic of China]], the city's name was officially changed back to Ürümqi. The ruling [[Chinese Communist Party]] believed that the name "Dihua", which literally means "to enlighten and civilize", was belittling and [[Han chauvinism|ethnically chauvinist]].{{sfn|Wiens|1963|p=447}}

Ürümqi became the ''de facto'' political and economic capital of Xinjiang in 1962, following protests against Chinese rule in the previous capital [[Yining]] (Ghulja). In what came to be known as the [[Yi–Ta incident]], 60,000 Chinese citizens left Yining and [[Tacheng]] for the [[Soviet Union]], prompting the Chinese government to move its administrative buildings and industrial focus from Yining to Ürümqi. The Chinese government also began construction on a railway connecting Ürümqi to [[China proper]] in the east. As a result, Xinjiang was culturally and economically reoriented away from Central Asia and toward China proper.{{sfn|Mao|2018|pp=155–156}}

In the late 1970s, [[Deng Xiaoping]] relaxed China's tight control over Xinjiang, and Ürümqi benefited from the development of the oil and gas industry in Xinjiang.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XuvqBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA4 |title=Xinjiang: China's Muslim Borderland |first=S. Frederick |last=Starr |page=4 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-45137-2 |date=4 March 2015 |access-date=18 September 2016 |archive-date=3 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003195104/https://books.google.com/books?id=XuvqBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA4 |url-status=live }}</ref>

New mosques were built in Ürümqi with financial assistance from the Chinese government.{{sfn|Finley|2013|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=LQBBAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA238 238]}} While the Chinese government implemented strict rules on religion in southern Xinjiang, the treatment of the Uyghurs and their religion in Ürümqi were more lax and permissive.{{sfn|Finley|2013|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=LQBBAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA240 240]}}

In May 1989, [[1989 Ürümqi unrest|unrest in Ürümqi]] resulted in 150 injuries. In February 1997, bombings in Ürümqi following the [[Ghulja incident]] resulted in 20 deaths and scores of injuries.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XuvqBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA380 |title=Xinjiang: China's Muslim Borderland |first=Dru C. |last=Gladney |editor=S. Frederick Starr |pages=379–380 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-45137-2 |date=4 March 2015 |access-date=18 September 2016 |archive-date=9 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109073844/https://books.google.com/books?id=XuvqBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA380 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====July 2009 riots and subsequent unrest====
{{See also|July 2009 Ürümqi riots|September 2009 Xinjiang unrest}}

In the largest eruption of ethnic violence in China in decades, there were riots in July 2009 between ethnic Han Chinese and Uyghurs. The ''New York Times'' reporter covering the riot described the violence as "clashes with riot police and Uyghurs rampaging through the city and killing Han civilians. Then, for at least three days, bands of Han vigilantes roamed Ürümqi, attacking and killing Uyghurs."<ref name="nyt">{{cite news|title=Rumbles on the Rim of China's Empire|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/12/weekinreview/12wong.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=11 July 2009|access-date=28 February 2017|archive-date=23 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123142930/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/12/weekinreview/12wong.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0|url-status=live}}</ref> Before the riot broke out, young Uyghurs had marched through the city "to protest a case of judicial discrimination".<ref name="nyt"/> According to official figures, most of the 197 killed in the riot were Han, a statement which ''New York Times'' reporter [[Edward Wong]] says is disputed by Uyghurs.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="deathtooll">{{cite news|title=China's Great Game: New frontier, old foes|url=https://www.ft.com/content/60f33cf8-6dae-11e5-8171-ba1968cf791a|publisher=Financial Times|date=14 October 2015|access-date=3 September 2016|archive-date=23 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123203622/https://www.ft.com/content/60f33cf8-6dae-11e5-8171-ba1968cf791a|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Geography ==
The largest city in [[western China]], Ürümqi has earned a place in the ''[[Guinness Book of Records]]'' as the most remote city from any sea in the world. It is about {{convert|2500|km}} from the nearest coastline as Ürümqi is the closest major city to the Eurasian [[pole of inaccessibility]], although [[Karamay]] and [[Altay City|Altay]], both in Xinjiang, are closer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/search/46.28333,+86.66667/@46.286224,86.682129,6z?source=s_q&hl=en&dg=dbrw&newdg=1|title=46°16'60.0"N 86°40'00.0"E|website=46°16'60.0"N 86°40'00.0"E|access-date=18 September 2016|archive-date=26 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026030131/https://www.google.com/maps/search/46.28333,+86.66667/@46.286224,86.682129,6z?source=s_q&hl=en&dg=dbrw&newdg=1|url-status=live}}</ref> The city has an administrative area of {{convert|10,989|km2}} and has an average elevation of {{convert|800|m}}.

The location {{coord|43|40|52|N|87|19|52|E}} in the southwestern suburbs of Ürümqi ([[Ürümqi County]]) was designated by local geography experts as the "center point of Asia" in 1992,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.xj.chinanews.com.cn/xinjiang/2023-11-20/detail-ihcuyruu2839540.shtml|title=Why is Urumqi the "Heart of Asia"?|website=China News Network|access-date=20 November 2023}}</ref> and a [[Geographical Center of Asian Continent|monument to this effect]] was erected there in the 1990s. The site is a local tourist attraction.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.confluence.org/confluence.php?visitid=12710|title=DCP: Geographic Center of Asia (visit #1)|website=www.confluence.org|access-date=31 March 2022|archive-date=6 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306080807/https://www.confluence.org/confluence.php?visitid=12710|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Water supply===
Although surrounded by deserts (the [[Gurbantünggüt Desert|Gurbantünggüt]] in the north and the [[Taklamakan Desert|Taklamakan]] in the south), the Ürümqi area is naturally watered by a number of small rivers flowing from the snow-capped Tian Shan mountains: the main range of the Tian Shan in south of the city (Ürümqi County), and the [[Bogda Shan]] east of the city ([[Dabancheng District]]).<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2017/10/21/554271726/impossible-to-save-scientists-are-watching-chinas-glaciers-disappear|title='Impossible To Save': Scientists Are Watching China's Glaciers Disappear|work=NPR.org|access-date=21 October 2017|language=en|archive-date=21 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021131148/http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2017/10/21/554271726/impossible-to-save-scientists-are-watching-chinas-glaciers-disappear|url-status=live}}</ref>

There are 20,000 glaciers in Xinjiang – nearly half of all the glaciers in China. Since the 1950s, Xinjiang's glaciers have retreated by between 21 percent to 27 percent due to [[global warming]]. [[Tianshan Glacier No. 1]] ({{lang|zh-hans|一号冰川}}), origin of Ürümqi River, is the largest glacier near a major city in China, but has already split into two smaller glaciers.<ref name=":0" />

As the Ürümqi region's population and economy are growing, the water demand exceeds the natural supply. To alleviate water shortages, the [[Irtysh–Karamay–Ürümqi Canal|Irtysh–Ürümqi Canal]] was constructed in the first decade of the 21st century. The canal's main trunk terminates in the so-called "Reservoir 500" ({{lang|zh-Hans|"500"水库}}; {{coord|44|12|00|N|87|49|00|E|display=inline|type:landmark_region:CN-65}}) in the far north-eastern suburbs of the city (on the border of Ürümqi's suburban [[Midong District]] and [[Fukang]] City). A new industrial area, called Ganquanbao Industrial Park ({{lang|zh-hans|甘泉堡工业园}}), or Industrial New City 500 ({{lang|zh-hans|500工业新城}}) was being developed in 2009, west of the reservoir, relying on it for water supply.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.xjass.com/jj/content/2009-01/13/content_53392_11.htm |script-title=zh:解决米东新区建设项目供水紧缺问题的方向 |language=zh-Hans |access-date=13 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022010738/http://www.xjass.com/jj/content/2009-01/13/content_53392_11.htm |archive-date=22 October 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wxsq.gov.cn/structure/zjxq/tzhjnr_1360_1.htm |script-title=zh:高新区（新市区）甘泉堡工业园基本概况--乌鲁木齐高新技术产业开发区(新市区) |language=zh-cn |access-date=21 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021233710/http://www.wxsq.gov.cn/structure/zjxq/tzhjnr_1360_1.htm |archive-date=21 October 2013 }}</ref> From the reservoir area water is further distributed over a network of canals throughout the lower Midong District.

=== Climate ===
Ürümqi lies on the boundary between a [[Monsoon-influenced hot-summer humid continental climate#Hot/warm summer subtype|humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Dfa'', [[Trewartha climate classification|Trewartha]]: ''Dcac'') and a [[cool semi-arid climate]] (Köppen: ''BSk'', Trewartha: ''BSac''). It sees vast differences between summer and winter temperatures, featuring very warm to hot summers, with a July daily average of {{convert|24.2|°C|1}}, and frigid winters, with a January daily average of {{convert|−12.2|°C|1}}. The annual average temperature is {{convert|7.8|°C|1}}. Although the cityʼs summers are slightly wetter than its winters, sunny weather is much more likely in the hotter months, and relative humidity is the lowest during summer. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 33 percent in December to 75 percent in September, the city receives 2,643 hours of bright sunshine annually. Its annual [[precipitation]] is about {{convert|365|mm|in|1}}.<ref name="cma new">{{cite web
|url=https://experience.arcgis.com/template/e724038fda394e9d9b7921f10fd1aa55/page/%E7%BA%AF%E8%A1%A8%E6%A0%BC%E7%BB%9F%E8%AE%A1-(%E5%AF%B9%E6%AF%948110%E5%8F%98%E5%8C%96)/?org=UQmaps
|script-title = zh:CMA台站气候标准值(1991-2020)
|publisher =  [[China Meteorological Administration]]
 | language = zh | access-date = 11 April 2023
|title = Experience Template
}}</ref> Extremes since 1951 have ranged from {{convert|−41.5|°C|1}} on 27 February 1951 to {{convert|42.1|°C|1}} on 1 August 1973.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/dataSetLogger.do?changeFlag=dataLogger |title=无标题文档 |access-date=15 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140710164442/http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/dataSetLogger.do?changeFlag=dataLogger |archive-date=10 July 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.mherrera.org/temp.htm
| title = Extreme Temperatures Around the World
| access-date = 1 December 2010
| archive-date = 22 June 2013
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130622141215/http://www.mherrera.org/temp.htm
| url-status = live
}}</ref>

<!-- can't fit perfectly for now...
{{climate chart
| Ürümqi
| −16.6 | −7.4 | 10
| −13.7 | −4.7 | 10
| − 5.4 |  2.7 | 19
|   4.8 | 16.1 | 32
|  11.2 | 23.1 | 39
|  16.1 | 27.6 | 46
|  18.2 | 30.1 | 40
|  16.7 | 29.0 | 33
|  11.2 | 23.1 | 26
|   3.1 | 13.2 | 26
| – 5.9 |  2.0 | 19
| −12.9 | −4.4 | 15
|source= CMA
|float=left
|clear=none
}} -->
{{Clear}}

{{Weather box
|location = Ürümqi, elevation {{convert|935|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present)
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C =  9.9
|Feb record high C = 13.5
|Mar record high C = 25.6
|Apr record high C = 32.5
|May record high C = 37.0
|Jun record high C = 40.9
|Jul record high C = 41.0
|Aug record high C = 42.1
|Sep record high C = 37.0
|Oct record high C = 30.5
|Nov record high C = 22.0
|Dec record high C = 15.6
|Jan record low C = −34.1
|Feb record low C = −41.5
|Mar record low C = −33.4
|Apr record low C = -14.9
|May record low C =  -2.4
|Jun record low C =   4.6
|Jul record low C =   8.8
|Aug record low C =   5.0
|Sep record low C =  -5.0
|Oct record low C = −12.4
|Nov record low C = −36.6
|Dec record low C = −38.3
|Jan high C = −7.4
|Feb high C = −4.3
|Mar high C =  5.3
|Apr high C = 17.4
|May high C = 23.4
|Jun high C = 28.2
|Jul high C = 30.1
|Aug high C = 29.0
|Sep high C = 23.1
|Oct high C = 14.2
|Nov high C =  3.3
|Dec high C = −4.8

|Jan mean C = -12.2
|Feb mean C = -8.9
|Mar mean C =  0.4
|Apr mean C = 11.5
|May mean C = 17.3
|Jun mean C = 22.4
|Jul mean C = 24.2
|Aug mean C = 22.9
|Sep mean C = 17.2
|Oct mean C =  8.8
|Nov mean C = -0.9
|Dec mean C = -9.2

|Jan low C = −15.7
|Feb low C = −12.3
|Mar low C =  −3.2
|Apr low C =   6.6
|May low C =  12.2
|Jun low C =  17.4
|Jul low C =  19.3
|Aug low C =  17.9
|Sep low C =  12.3
|Oct low C =   4.6
|Nov low C =  −4.0
|Dec low C = −12.6
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 19.0
|Feb precipitation mm = 13.6
|Mar precipitation mm = 18.8
|Apr precipitation mm = 38.3
|May precipitation mm = 41.3
|Jun precipitation mm = 48.8
|Jul precipitation mm = 35.4
|Aug precipitation mm = 30.4
|Sep precipitation mm = 29.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 23.8
|Nov precipitation mm = 23.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 25.3

|Jan humidity = 77
|Feb humidity = 77
|Mar humidity = 68
|Apr humidity = 45
|May humidity = 41
|Jun humidity = 41
|Jul humidity = 43
|Aug humidity = 42
|Sep humidity = 43
|Oct humidity = 54
|Nov humidity = 72
|Dec humidity = 78
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 8.1
|Feb precipitation days = 7.3
|Mar precipitation days = 5.5
|Apr precipitation days = 6.7
|May precipitation days = 6.8
|Jun precipitation days = 7.2
|Jul precipitation days = 8.0
|Aug precipitation days = 6.3
|Sep precipitation days = 4.4
|Oct precipitation days = 4.8
|Nov precipitation days = 6.6
|Dec precipitation days = 9.6

|Jan sun = 101.8 |Jan percentsun = 35
|Feb sun = 129.7 |Feb percentsun = 43
|Mar sun = 203.2 |Mar percentsun = 54
|Apr sun = 261.4 |Apr percentsun = 64
|May sun = 301.9 |May percentsun = 66
|Jun sun = 300.8 |Jun percentsun = 65
|Jul sun = 306.1 |Jul percentsun = 66
|Aug sun = 301.1 |Aug percentsun = 71
|Sep sun = 275.2 |Sep percentsun = 75
|Oct sun = 234.5 |Oct percentsun = 71
|Nov sun = 137.0 |Nov percentsun = 48
|Dec sun =  90.5 |Dec percentsun = 33
|Jan snow days = 13.6
|Feb snow days = 12.6
|Mar snow days = 7.6
|Apr snow days = 2.8
|May snow days = 0.3
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0.1
|Oct snow days = 2.1
|Nov snow days = 8.4
|Dec snow days = 14.8
|year snow days = 
|source 1 = China Meteorological Administration<ref name="cma new"/><ref>[http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/dataSetLogger.do?changeFlag=dataLogger China Meteorological Administration]</ref><ref name = Pogoda >
{{cite web
| url = http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate4/51463.htm
| title = Weather and Climate – The Climate of Urumqi
| publisher = Weather and Climate (Погода и климат)
| language = ru
| access-date = 15 November 2023}}</ref>}}

==Cityscape==
{{Wide image|A glance at Urumqi from Hongshan Park.jpg|1040px|Urumqi Skyline, from Hongshan Park, in 2018|center|alt=}}

===Air quality and pollution===

[[Blacksmith Institute]] mentioned Ürümqi in ''2007 World's Worst Polluted Places'' caused by [[air pollution]] along with [[Linfen]] and [[Lanzhou]], all in China.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blacksmithinstitute.org/wwpp2007/finalReport2007.pdf|title=THE WORLD'S WORST POLLUTED PLACESThe Top Ten(of The Dirty Thirty)|access-date=18 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011181528/http://www.blacksmithinstitute.org/wwpp2007/finalReport2007.pdf|archive-date=11 October 2007}}</ref> In 2008, ''[[Toronto Star]]'' listed Ürümqi as one of the top ten worst places to live in the world due to sulphurous pollution.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/article/559958 |title=Winter in Urumqi, one of the world's most polluted cities Alison Bate |date=31 December 2008 |work=The Star |access-date=18 February 2012 |location=Toronto |archive-date=22 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822223745/http://www.thestar.com/article/559958 |url-status=live }}</ref> Heavy haze is extremely common in winter, which frequently affects air traffic. Officials believed that severe winter air pollution in Ürümqi is mainly caused by energy-heavy industries and the outdated coal-firing winter heating system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90882/7730374.html|title=Urumqi to invest heavily to cut air pollution – People's Daily Online|access-date=18 February 2012|archive-date=18 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618160641/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90882/7730374.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to a report by Department of Environmental Science and Engineering of [[Fudan University]], the average PM<sub>2.5</sub> and TSP concentrations in the winter of 2007 were 12 times higher than USA standard for PM<sub>2.5</sub> and 3 times the National Ambient Air Quality Standard of China for TSP.<ref name=fudan>{{cite journal|last=Li|first=Juan Li|author2=Guoshun Zhuanga|author3=Kan Huanga|author4=Yanfen Lina|author5=Chang Xua|author6=Shulong Yub|title=Characteristics and sources of air-borne particulate in Urumqi, China, the upstream area of Asia dust|journal=Atmospheric Environment|volume=42|issue=4|pages=776–787|year=2008|url=http://environment.fudan.edu.cn/CACS/papers/characteristics%20and%20sources%20of%20air-borne%20particulate%20in%20urumqi,%20china,%20the%20upstream%20area%20of%20asia%20dust.pdf|doi=10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.09.062|access-date=18 February 2012|bibcode=2008AtmEn..42..776L|archive-date=15 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515095217/http://environment.fudan.edu.cn/CACS/papers/characteristics%20and%20sources%20of%20air-borne%20particulate%20in%20urumqi,%20china,%20the%20upstream%20area%20of%20asia%20dust.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[sulfur dioxide]] from industrial emissions mixed with the local anthropogenic aerosol with the transported soil dust from outside the city were the main sources of the high concentration of sulfate, one of the main factors causing the heavy air pollution over Ürümqi.<ref name=fudan/>

===Timing of sunrise===
Because of the use of a [[Time in China|single time zone]] for all of China, in Ürümqi which is at a far western location in China, the sun is 2 hours and 10 minutes behind [[China Standard Time]] (CST = [[UTC]]+8). During early January the sun does not rise until 09:45 and it sets between 18:45 and 19:10 local time. In September and March, the sun rises around 08:00, and sets around 19:45. However, in June the sun rises at about 06:25 and does not set until 21:45.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}
== Administrative divisions ==
[[File:NK-45-02 Ti-Hua China.jpg|thumb|left|Map including Ürümqi (labeled as TI-HUA (WU-LU-MU-CH'I)) ([[US Army Topographic Command|ATC]], 1971)]]
[[File:Txu-oclc-6654394-nk-45-3rd-ed.jpg|left|thumb|Map including Ürümqi (labeled as WU-LU-MU-CH'I) and nearby areas from the [[International Map of the World]] (1975)]]
Ürümqi currently comprises 8 [[Administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China#County level|county-level]] subdivisions: 7 [[District (PRC)|districts]] and 1 [[County (People's Republic of China)|county]].

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; margin:auto;"
!colspan="8"| Map
|-
|colspan="8"| <div style="position: relative" class="center">
{{Image label begin|image=Administrative division Urumqi.png|width=450|link=}}
{{Image label|x=900|y=1840|scale=450/2320|text=[[Tianshan District|'''Tianshan''']]}}
{{Image label|x=620|y=1860|scale=450/2320|text=[[Saybag District|'''Saybag''']]}}
{{Image label|x=790|y=1530|scale=450/2320|text=[[Xinshi District, Ürümqi|'''Xinshi''']]}}
{{Image label|x=900|y=1710|scale=450/2320|text=[[Shuimogou District|'''Shuimogou''']]}}
{{Image label|x=500|y=1550|scale=450/2320|text=[[Toutunhe District|'''Toutunhe''']]}}
{{Image label|x=1560|y=2110|scale=450/2320|text=[[Dabancheng District|'''Dabancheng<br/>※''']]}}
{{Image label|x=1010|y=1500|scale=450/2320|text=[[Midong District|'''Midong''']]}}
{{Image label|x=550|y=2290|scale=450/2320|text=[[Ürümqi County|'''Ürümqi<br/>County''']]}}
{{Image label|x=630|y=2880|scale=450/2320|text=[[Dabancheng District|'''※''']]}}
{{Image label end}}</div>
|-
! Name
! Simplified Chinese
! Hanyu Pinyin
! [[Uyghur language|Uyghur]] ([[Uyghur Arabic script|UEY]])
! Uyghur Latin ([[Uyghur Latin script|ULY]])
! Population ([[Sixth National Population Census of the People's Republic of China|2010]])<ref>{{cite web|title=CHINA: Ürümqi / 乌鲁木齐市|url=http://www.citypopulation.de/php/china-township-urumqi.php|work=City Population|access-date=28 September 2016|archive-date=2 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002132605/http://www.citypopulation.de/php/china-township-urumqi.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
! Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
! Density ( / km<sup>2</sup>)
|-
| colspan="8" align="center" bgcolor="#D3D3D3" |'''City proper'''
|-
| [[Tianshan District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|天山区}}
| {{transliteration|zh|Tiānshān Qū}}
| {{script/Arabic|تەڭرىتاغ رايونى}}
| {{transliteration|ug|Tengritagh Rayoni}}
| 696,277
| 171
| 4071.79
|-
| [[Saybag District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|沙依巴克区}}
| {{transliteration|zh|Shāyībākè Qū}}
| {{script/Arabic|سايباغ رايونى}}
| {{transliteration|ug|Saybagh Rayoni}}
| 664,716
| 422
| 1575.15
|-
| [[Xinshi District, Ürümqi|Xinshi District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|新市区}}
| {{transliteration|zh|Xīnshì Qū}}
| {{script/Arabic|يېڭىشەھەر رايونى}}
| {{transliteration|ug|Yëngisheher Rayoni}}
| 730,307
| 143
| 5107.04
|-
| [[Shuimogou District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|水磨沟区}}
| {{transliteration|zh|Shuǐmògōu Qū}}
| {{script/Arabic|بۇلاقتاغ رايونى}}
| {{transliteration|ug|Bulaqtagh Rayoni}}
| 390,943
| 92
| 4249.38
|-
| colspan="8" align="center" bgcolor="#D3D3D3" |'''Suburban'''
|-
| [[Toutunhe District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|头屯河区}}
| {{transliteration|zh|Tóutúnhé Qū}}
| {{script/Arabic|تۇدۇڭخابا رايونى}}
| {{transliteration|ug|Tudungxaba Rayoni}}
| 172,796
| 276
| 626.07
|-
| [[Dabancheng District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|达坂城区}}
| {{transliteration|zh|Dábǎnchéng Qū}}
| {{script/Arabic|داۋانچىڭ رايونى}}
| {{transliteration|ug|Dawanching Rayoni}}
| 40,657
| 5,188
| 7.83
|-
| [[Midong District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|米东区}}
| {{transliteration|zh|Mǐdōng Qū}}
| {{script/Arabic|مىدوڭ رايونى}}
| {{transliteration|ug|Midong Rayoni}}
| 333,676
| 3,594
| 92.84
|-
| colspan="8" align="center" bgcolor="#D3D3D3" |'''Rural'''
|-
| [[Ürümqi County]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|乌鲁木齐县}}
| {{transliteration|zh|Wūlǔmùqí Xiàn}}
| {{script/Arabic|ئۈرۈمچى ناھىيىسى}}
| {{transliteration|ug|Ürümchi Nahiyisi}}
| 83,187
| 4,332
| 19.20
|}

== Demographics ==
[[File:大巴扎 China Xinjiang Urumqi Welcome you to tour the, Китай Синьцз - panoramio - jun jin luo (1).jpg|thumb|The [[Grand Bazaar (Ürümqi)|Grand Bazaar]].]]
Ürümqi has been a multiethnic city from the time of the Qing conquest; in the early years, the Manchus lived in Gongning Cheng, Han Chinese in Dihua and various other ethnic groups such as the Hui, Uyghurs and others in the suburban districts.{{sfn|Gaubatz|1996|pp=73–75}} Muslims settled to the south of the walled-city of Dihua, and although the walls have since been demolished, the Muslims are still concentrated there.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XuvqBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA244 |title=Xinjiang: China's Muslim Borderland |first=Stanley W. |last=Toops |editor=S. Frederick Starr |page=244 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-45137-2 |date=4 March 2015 |access-date=25 September 2016 |archive-date=9 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109093137/https://books.google.com/books?id=XuvqBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA244 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A census in 1787 showed that there were 114,348 Hui and Han in the prefectures of Zhenxi (which included Barköl and [[Hami]]) and Ürümqi.{{sfn|Millward|2007|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=8FVsWq31MtMC&pg=PA306 306–307]}} In Ürümqi city itself, there were 39,000 people in the 1880s and by the early 20th century, 50,000 people.{{sfn|Gaubatz|1996|pp=73–75}} Ürümqi in 1908 was said to have been inhabited by Uyghurs (then called Turkis), Chinese, Manchus and a few Mongols, with the Uyghurs estimated to comprise a quarter of the population.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=puZHAQAAMAAJ&q=wulumuhts%27i |title=L. Richard's Comprehensive Geography of the Chinese Empire and Dependencies |author=Louis Richard |author2=M. Kennelly |date=1908 |page=532 |access-date=18 October 2020 |archive-date=3 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003132845/https://books.google.com/books?id=puZHAQAAMAAJ&q=wulumuhts%27i |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the People's Republic of China era, an active program to resettle Han population in Xinjiang was initiated.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XuvqBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA169 |title=Xinjiang: China's Muslim Borderland |first=Calla |last=Wiener |editor=S. Frederick Starr |pages=168–169 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-45137-2 |date=4 March 2015 |access-date=18 September 2016 |archive-date=9 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109081016/https://books.google.com/books?id=XuvqBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA169 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1960, there were 76,496 Uyghurs and 477,321 Han Chinese in Ürümqi.{{sfn|Millward|2007|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=8FVsWq31MtMC&pg=PA260 260]}}

According to the 2000 census, Ürümqi had 2,081,834 inhabitants, with a population density of 174.53 inhabitants / km<sup>2</sup> (452.3 inhabitants / sq. mi.).<ref name="2000 census">{{cite book |script-title=zh:2000年人口普查中国民族人口资料 |publisher=民族出版社 |year=2003 |isbn=978-7-105-05425-1}}</ref>

In the 2010 census, the population was recorded as 3,112,559. Part of the increase was due to boundary changes; for example, Miquan was merged into [[Midong District]] and became part of Ürümqi in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citypopulation.de/php/china-xinjiang-admin.php?adm1id=6501 |title=WŪLŬMÙQÍ SHÌ (Prefecture-level City) |work=City Population |access-date=28 September 2016 |archive-date=15 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215065919/http://www.citypopulation.de/php/china-xinjiang-admin.php?adm1id=6501 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2021, Ürümqi was estimated to have a population of 4.544 million people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://populationstat.com/china/urumqi|title=Urumqi, China Population (2022) – Population Stat|access-date=12 February 2022|archive-date=12 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212174745/https://populationstat.com/china/urumqi|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class = "wikitable"
|+Population by ethnicity
|- style="background:#eee;"
! rowspan="2" | [[List of ethnic groups in China|Ethnicity]]
! colspan="2" | 2000<ref name="2000 census"/>
! colspan="2" | 2010<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OkAVAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA65|pages=65–66|title=Eurasian Corridors of Interconnection: From the South China to the Caspian Sea|editor1=Susan M. Walcott|editor2=Corey Johnson|date=August 2012|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-07875-1|author=Stanley W. Toops|access-date=11 August 2017|archive-date=23 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223043504/https://books.google.com/books?id=OkAVAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA65|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region People's Government Census Leaders' Office |script-title=zh:《新疆维吾尔自治区2010年人口普查资料》|date=August 2012 |publisher=[[:zh:中国统计出版社|China Statistics Print]] |language=zh-hans |isbn=978-7-5037-6516-2}}</ref>
|- style="background:#eee;"
! Population
! style="width:4em;"|%
! Population
! style="width:4em;"|%
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Han Chinese]]
| 1,567,562
| 75.30
| 2,331,654
| 74.91
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Uyghurs|Uyghur]]
| 266,342
| 12.79
| 387,878
| 12.46
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Hui people|Hui]]
| 167,148
| 8.03
| 280,186
| 9.00
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Kazakhs]]
| 48,772
| 2.34
| 68,076
| 2.19
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Mongols|Mongol]]
| 7,252
| 0.35
| 10,454
| 0.34
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Manchu people|Manchu]]
| 7,682
| 0.37
| 8,541
| 0.27
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Xibe people|Xibe]]
| 3,674
| 0.18
| 4,820
| 0.15
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Russians|Russian]]
| 2,603
| 0.13
| 3,010
| 0.10
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Monguor people|Tu]]
| 1,613
| 0.08
| 2,869
| 0.09
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Kyrgyz people|Kyrgyz]]
| 1,436
| 0.07
| 2,207
| 0.07
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Uzbeks|Uzbek]]
| 1,406
| 0.07
| 1,581
| 0.05
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Zhuang people|Zhuang]]
| 878
| 0.04
|
|
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Tatars|Tatar]]
| 767
| 0.04
|
|
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Tibetan people|Tibetan]]
| 665
| 0.03
|
|
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Dongxiangs|Dongxiang]]
| 621
| 0.03
| 2,333
| 0.07
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Miao people|Miao]]
| 620
| 0.03
|
|
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Koreans|Korean]]
| 588
| 0.03
|
|
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |Other
| 2,205
| 0.09
| 8,950
| 0.29
|- style="background:#EEF"
|Total
|2,081,834
|
|3,112,559
|
|}

== Economy ==
{{More citations needed|section|date=August 2022}}
[[File:Outer Ring Road of Urumqi.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Outer Ring Road viaducts in Ürümqi at night]]
Ürümqi is a major industrial center within Xinjiang. Ürümqi, together with [[Karamay]] and [[Korla]], account for 64.5&nbsp;percent of the total industrial output of Xinjiang. Ürümqi is also the largest consumer center in the region, recording [[Renminbi|¥]]41.9 billion retail sales of consumer goods in 2008, an increase of 26&nbsp;percent from 2007. {{As of|2022}}, the city's GDP was {{CNY|389.3 billion|link=yes}} ({{US$|57.9 billion}}), while the GDP per capita was around {{CNY|95,511}} ({{US$|14,200}}).<ref name="data2022" /> Ürümqi has been a central developmental target for the [[China Western Development]] project that the Central Government is pursuing.

The [[Urumqi Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Fair]] has been held annually since 1991 and has been upgraded into the first [[China-Eurasia Expo]] in 2011. Its purpose is to promote domestic and foreign markets. The 17th Fair has attracted participants from the [[Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China|Ministry of Commerce]] and the [[China Council for the Promotion of International Trade|China Council for Promotion of International Trade]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}
[[File:Urumqi partial panorama at dusk.JPG|thumb|left|250px|Buildings in Ürümqi CBDs near [[People's Square (Ürümqi)|People's Square]] ]]
[[Xinjiang Guanghui Industry Investment Group]] is the largest [[real estate]] enterprise and most powerful [[privately held company|privately owned company]] in Xinjiang and is currently engaged in energy and automobiles. [[Zhong Tian Plaza|China CITIC Bank Mansion]], headquarters of Guanghui, located in one of the CBDs in North Xinhua Road, is the tallest building in Ürümqi and Xinjiang; with a height of {{convert|229|m|abbr=off}}, it is also the tallest in [[Northwestern China]] and [[Central Asia]]. Zhongshan Road (Sun Yat-sen Road; {{lang-zh|links=no|c=中山路}}) has been one of the ten most famous commercial streets in China since 2005. Zhongshan Road has always been the hub of [[consumer electronics]] in the city, with the largest computer, [[mobile phone]] and [[consumer electronics]] market in Xinjiang, including Baihuacun, Cyber Digital Plaza and Fountain Plaza.

As the economic center in Xinjiang, Ürümqi has expanded its urban area since the 1990s. The [[Central Business District|CBDs]] in the city increased rapidly all around the major districts. Despite the old city areas being primarily in the south, the development in the north part began since the late 1980s. The completion of the new office tower for Ürümqi Municipal Government in 2003 at [[Nanhu Square]] ({{lang|zh-hans|南湖广场}}) in Nanhu Road marked a shift of the city center to the north. Lacking a subway, the city commenced the construction of [[viaduct]]s for Outer Ring Road ({{lang|zh-hans|外环路}}) since 2003, which considerably facilitates transport. Youhao Road ({{lang|zh-hans|友好路}}) and surrounding neighborhood, is the commercial center for business, shopping and amusement. Youhao Group ({{lang|zh-hans|友好集团}}), the namesake local enterprise, owns a major market share of retails. Maison Mode Ürümqi ({{lang|zh-hans|乌鲁木齐美美百货}}), open since 2008, became one of the few notable department stores for [[luxury good|luxury merchandise]] in the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maisonmode.com/mm_wlmq.html|script-title=zh:MAISON MODE · 美美|access-date=18 February 2012|archive-date=26 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726031605/http://www.maisonmode.com/mm_wlmq.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Ürümqi Economic and Technological Development Zone (UETD) located in the northern [[Toutunhe District]], has been a leading base for steel, machinery manufacturing, biochemistry and other industrial innovations.
{{Clear}}

== Main sights==
[[File:People's Square of Urumqi 1.jpg|thumb|[[People's Square (Ürümqi)|People's Square]].]]
[[File:Urumqi s bazzar.jpg|thumb|[[Grand Bazaar (Ürümqi)|International Grand Bazaar Xinjiang]].]]
* [[Grand Bazaar (Ürümqi)|Grand Bazaar]], a [[bazaar]] on South Jiefang Road ({{lang|zh|解放南路}}).
* [[Hong Shan]] (Red Mountain) is the symbol of Ürümqi, located in Hongshan Park.
* [[People's Park (Ürümqi)|People's Park]], south of Hongshan Park.
* [[People's Square (Ürümqi)|People's Square]]
* Nanhu Square ({{lang|zh-hans|南湖广场}})
* Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum ({{lang|zh-hans|新疆维吾尔自治区博物馆}}), which was completely rebuilt in the early 2000s.<ref>[http://www.chinaheritagequarterly.org/features.php?searchterm=003_twomuseums.inc&issue=003 A TALE OF TWO CITIES: NEW MUSEUMS FOR YINING AND URUMQI] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927150333/http://www.chinaheritagequarterly.org/features.php?searchterm=003_twomuseums.inc&issue=003 |date=27 September 2013 }}. ''CHINA HERITAGE NEWSLETTER'', No. 3, September 2005</ref>
* [[Heaven Lake of Tian Shan|Heavenly Lake Scenic Area]], a popular park with some of China's most famous alpine scenery, over two hours outside Ürümqi.
* Shuimogou Hot Springs ({{lang|zh-hans|水磨沟温泉}}) is located {{convert|5|km|abbr=on}} northeast of Ürümqi.
* Xinjiang Silk Road Museum ({{lang|zh-hans|新疆丝绸之路博物馆}}) is located next to the Grand Bazaar at No. 160 Shengli Road. It is located on the fourth and fifth floors of a large European-style building which houses a shopping complex as well. Most of the exhibits have English names as well and some of the guides speak some English.
* Ürümqi City Museum ({{lang|zh-hans|乌鲁木齐博物馆}}) is located at South Nanhu Road 123 ({{lang|zh-hans|南湖南路123号}}).
* Ürümqi Tatar [[Mosque]] ({{lang|zh-hans|乌鲁木齐塔塔尔寺清真寺}}) is located on Jiefang Road. Permission must be obtained prior to visiting the mosque.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.muslim2china.com/china-mosques/Urumqi-Tartar-Mosque-43.html|title=Urumqi Tartar Mosque|website=www.muslim2china.com|access-date=31 March 2022|archive-date=6 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106132239/https://www.muslim2china.com/china-mosques/Urumqi-Tartar-Mosque-43.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The monument at the [[Geographical Center of Asian Continent]], in Yongfeng Township, [[Ürümqi County]]
* Ürümqi Silk Road Ski Resort ({{lang|zh-hans|丝绸之路滑雪场}}) is located in Ürümqi County.
*[[Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Ürümqi]]: Diocesan Cathedral of the [[Apostolic Prefecture of Xinjiang-Urumqi|Diocese of Xinjiang]] ({{zhi|c=烏魯木齊天主教堂}})

== Education and science ==
[[File:Xife.jpg|thumb|Xinjiang University of Finance and Economics.]]
[[File:Front-Gate of Urumqi No.1 High School.JPG|thumb|Ürümqi No.1 High School.]]
Ürümqi is one of the top 500 [[List of cities by scientific output|cities in the world by scientific research output]], as tracked by the [[Nature Index]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nature Index 2018 Science Cities {{!}} Nature Index Supplements {{!}} Nature Index|url=https://www.natureindex.com/supplements/nature-index-2018-science-cities/global-city-map|access-date=16 October 2020|website=www.natureindex.com|archive-date=2 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002014918/https://www.natureindex.com/supplements/nature-index-2018-science-cities/global-city-map|url-status=live}}</ref> The city is also home to [[Xinjiang University]], a comprehensive university with the highest academic level in Xinjiang, under the [[Project 211]]<ref>[http://www.xju.edu.cn/xxgk/xxgk.htm About Xinjiang University] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929031335/http://www.xju.edu.cn/xxgk/xxgk.htm|date=29 September 2008}}, Retrieved on 2 September 2008</ref> and the [[Double First-Class Construction]].<ref name="Chinese Department of Education">{{Cite web|script-title=zh:教育部 财政部 国家发展改革委 关于公布世界一流大学和一流学科建设高校及建设 学科名单的通知|trans-title=Notice from the Ministry of Education and other national governmental departments announcing the list of double first class universities and disciplines|url=http://www.moe.gov.cn/srcsite/A22/moe_843/201709/t20170921_314942.html|publisher=[[Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China]]|access-date=16 October 2020|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090945/http://www.moe.gov.cn/srcsite/A22/moe_843/201709/t20170921_314942.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Other educational campuses include [[Xinjiang Normal University]], [[Xinjiang Agricultural University]], and [[Xinjiang Medical University]].

=== Universities ===
* [[Xinjiang University]] ({{lang|zh-Hans|新疆大学}})
* [[Xinjiang Normal University]] ({{lang|zh-Hans|新疆师范大学}})<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.xjnu.edu.cn/ |title=Xinjiang Normal University official website |access-date=8 May 2014 |archive-date=22 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722024037/http://www.xjnu.edu.cn/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Xinjiang Agricultural University]] ({{lang|zh-Hans|新疆农业大学}})
* [[Xinjiang Arts Institute]] ({{lang|zh-Hans|新疆艺术学院}})
* [[Xinjiang University of Finance and Economics]] ({{lang|zh-Hans|新疆财经大学}})
* [[Ürümqi Vocational University]] ({{lang|zh-Hans|乌鲁木齐职业大学}})
* [[Xinjiang Vocational and Technical Institute]] ({{lang|zh-Hans|新疆交通职业技术学院}})
* [[Xinjiang Medical University]] ({{lang|zh-Hans|新疆医科大学}})

=== High schools ===
* [[No.1 Senior High School of Ürümqi|Ürümqi No.1 High School]]
* [[Bingtuan No.2 Middle School]]
* [[Bayi Senior High School of Ürümqi]]
* [[No.70 Senior High School of Ürümqi]]
* [[No.8 Senior High School of Ürümqi]]
* [[No.6 Senior High School of Ürümqi]]

===Research institutes===
* [[Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory]]
* [[The Xingjiang Technical Institute of Physics & Chemistry.CAS]]
* [[Xingjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography]]

== Transportation ==
[[File:China Xinjiang Airlines Boeing 757-200 Newton-1.jpg|thumb|right|Ürümqi Tianshan International Airport.]]
[[File:Urumqi South Railway Station, 2006-04-25.jpg|thumb|right|Ürümqi South Railway Station.]]

=== Air ===
Ürümqi is served by the [[Ürümqi Tianshan International Airport]]. It is a hub for [[China Southern Airlines]]. Ürümqi Tianshan International Airport is the largest airport in Xinjiang, and the only airport in China to serve flights from [[Afghanistan]] and [[Tajikistan]].

=== Bus rapid transit ===
The [[Ürümqi BRT|Ürümqi Bus Rapid Transit]] (Ürümqi BRT) bus service was launched in August 2011 after an investment of 930 million yuan in an effort to improve urban traffic.<ref>{{cite web |date=29 August 2011 |title=NW China's Xinjiang launches BRT bus service |url=http://english.cntv.cn/20110829/108853.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921204739/http://english.cntv.cn/20110829/108853.shtml |archive-date=21 September 2011 |website=CNTV}}</ref> There are currently 9 routes operated, BRT1, BRT2, BRT3, BRT4, BRT5, BRT 6, its branch BRT 61, BRT 7, and its branch BRT 71.<ref>{{cite web |title=Urumqi BRT |url=http://www.chinabrt.org/en/cities/urumqi.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318190156/http://www.chinabrt.org/en/cities/urumqi.aspx |archive-date=18 March 2012 |access-date=17 February 2012 |publisher=chinabrt.org}}</ref>

=== Metro ===
The [[Ürümqi Metro]] opened on 25 October 2018, when the northern section of Line 1 was opened to the public. The southern section of Line 1 opened on 28 June 2019.<ref name="Line1a">{{cite web |date=27 June 2019 |script-title=zh:通南彻北展通途 乌鲁木齐地铁与您逐梦同行 |url=https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/msdsH_DrMgRNMDE5l0GiJw |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627120117/https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/msdsH_DrMgRNMDE5l0GiJw |archive-date=27 June 2019}}</ref> Line 1 runs between [[Ürümqi Tianshan International Airport]] and Santunbei in downtown Ürümqi, with a total length of {{convert|27.615|km|1|abbr=on}} and 21 stations.<ref name="Line1a" /><ref name="Line1Length">{{cite web |date=18 April 2018 |script-title=zh:乌鲁木齐地铁1号线北段空载试运行 |url=https://www.kanzhun.com/news/122618.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609051438/https://www.kanzhun.com/news/122618.html |archive-date=9 June 2019}}</ref> It is fully underground.<ref name="U1length">{{cite web |date=3 September 2019 |script-title=zh:28日，京疆合作的乌鲁木齐轨道交通1号线全线开通试运营 |url=http://www.bjgdjs.com/html/2019-09/797.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106163139/http://www.bjgdjs.com/html/2019-09/797.html |archive-date=6 November 2019}}</ref>

The planned system consists of 7 lines being {{convert|211|km|0|abbr=on}} in length. The first two lines, Line 1 and Line 2 will be constructed with an estimated cost of 31.24 billion yuan.<ref>{{cite web |date=20 April 2012 |script-title=zh:新疆乌鲁木齐市投资312.4亿元建设两条轨道交通 |url=http://www.tianshannet.com.cn/news/content/2012-04/20/content_6764912.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406013651/http://news.ts.cn/content/2012-04/20/content_6764912.htm |archive-date=6 April 2019 |access-date=24 October 2012 |publisher=[[Tianshannet]]}}</ref>

=== Rail ===
Ürümqi is Xinjiang's main rail hub with two primary railway stations, the older [[Ürümqi South railway station]] (formerly the Ürümqi railway station) and [[Ürümqi railway station]] opened in July 2016. The [[Lanxin High-Speed Railway|Lanzhou-Xinjiang High Speed Railway]] stops at both stations, running from Ürümqi to [[Lanzhou railway station]], and has been in operation since the end of 2014.

The city is served by several conventional rail lines. Ürümqi is the western terminus of the [[Lanzhou–Xinjiang railway|Lanzhou–Xinjiang (Lanxin)]] and [[Ürümqi–Dzungaria railway|Ürümqi–Dzungaria (Wuzhun)]] Railway, and the eastern terminus of the [[Northern Xinjiang railway|Northern Xinjiang (Beijiang)]] and the [[Second Ürümqi–Jinghe railway]]. The Beijiang and the Lanxin Lines form part of the [[Eurasian Land Bridge|Trans-Eurasian Continental Railway]], which runs from [[Rotterdam]] through the [[Dzungarian Gate|Alataw Pass]] on the Kazakhstan border to Ürümqi and on to Lanzhou and [[Lianyungang]].

=== Road ===

* [[China National Highway 216]]
* [[China National Highway 312]]
* [[China National Highway 314]]

Many roads to the north and west typically shut down by early October, remaining closed until the end of winter.

== Media ==
The [[Xinjiang Networking Transmission Limited]] operates the [[Urumqi People's Broadcasting Station|Ürümqi People's Broadcasting Station]] and the [[Xinjiang People Broadcasting Station]], broadcasting in the [[Standard Chinese|Mandarin]], [[Uyghur language|Uyghur]], [[Kazakh language|Kazakh]], [[Mongolian language|Mongolian]], Russian and the [[Kyrgyz language|Kyrgyz]] languages.

The [[Xinjiang Television Station]] (XJTV), located in Ürümqi, is the major TV broadcasting station in the [[Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region]]. The local television station for Ürümqi city is [[Ürümqi Television Station]] (UTV).

The Ürümqi Multilingual Public Service Platform is a mobile application and website that provides government services and information in multiple languages, including Mandarin, Uyghur, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz. It facilitates access to administrative procedures, public announcements, and emergency alerts for the city's diverse ethnic communities, promoting digital inclusion.<ref>{{cite web |title=乌鲁木齐市政府多语种公共服务平台上线 |url=http://www.urumqi.gov.cn/ |website=乌鲁木齐市人民政府 |access-date=2025-10-26}}</ref>

== Sport ==
* [[Xinjiang Flying Tigers]] is a basketball team that is part of the [[Chinese Basketball Association]], based in Ürümqi, Xinjiang. Its corporate sponsor is Xinjiang Guanghui Group.
* [[Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard F.C.]] is a local football team in the [[China League One]].

China started a [[bandy]] development programme by organizing educational days in Ürümqi in June 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache%3AGf8LNSHMc8IJ%3Awww.internationalbandy.com%2Fdownload.do%3Fug%3DAdministrator%26f%3DChina%2520on%2520the%2520way%2520into%2520the%2520Bandy%2520family.doc+altry+xiang+bandy&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESibsk1eA0Ea6KGTzWE_FNhq1Najd02L5kKOnBmUgS_J7SF2Koqn_tgL15k1lAfLmPe5DFZJWkONS49X21fGMQOA6qgkEUkPd0h07WMeAvkzyYFUnvu-jTaCD54bB87rEU5ncAJd&sig=AHIEtbTkBxDi70IsFNCXSFFYoMJDzRz1mA&pli=1 |title=China on the way into the bandy family |access-date=9 June 2012 |archive-date=17 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117122203/https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache%3AGf8LNSHMc8IJ%3Awww.internationalbandy.com%2Fdownload.do%3Fug%3DAdministrator&f=China%20on%20the%20way%20into%20the%20Bandy%20family.doc+altry+xiang+bandy&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESibsk1eA0Ea6KGTzWE_FNhq1Najd02L5kKOnBmUgS_J7SF2Koqn_tgL15k1lAfLmPe5DFZJWkONS49X21fGMQOA6qgkEUkPd0h07WMeAvkzyYFUnvu-jTaCD54bB87rEU5ncAJd&sig=AHIEtbTkBxDi70IsFNCXSFFYoMJDzRz1mA&pli=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2015, an indoor [[speed skating]] arena was opened.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.speedskatingnews.info/en/data/rink/CHUQ|title=Xinjiang Ice Sports Center &#124; Ürümqi &#124; China &#124; Rink Profile|first=L.|last=Hagen|website=SpeedSkatingNews|access-date=31 March 2022|archive-date=31 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331171930/https://www.speedskatingnews.info/en/data/rink/CHUQ|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Twin towns and sister cities ==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in China}}
{{More citations needed section|date=May 2015}}
Ürümqi is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%; background:#FFFFEF; float:left;"
|-
! City
! Region
! Country
|-
| [[Malaybalay]]
| [[File:Flag of Bukidnon.png|24px]] [[Bukidnon]]
| {{flagu|Philippines}}
|-
| [[Osan]]
| [[File:Flag of Gyeonggi Province (2006–2021).svg|24px]] [[Gyeonggi]]
| {{flagu|South Korea}}
|-
| [[Peshawar]]
| [[File:Flag of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.svg|24px]] [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]
| {{flagu|Pakistan}}
|-
| [[Dushanbe]]
| [[File:Flag of Unknow.svg|24px]] [[Districts of Republican Subordination]]
| {{flagu|Tajikistan}}
|-
| [[Klang (city)|Klang]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.hongshannet.cn/wlmqG/Intr/Twin/201408/t20140828_246899.html|title=Twin Towns and Sister Cities (Abroad)|author=Yi Yanjun|publisher=Hong Shan|date=2 September 2014|access-date=21 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221034748/http://en.hongshannet.cn/wlmqG/Intr/Twin/201408/t20140828_246899.html|archive-date=21 December 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{flag|Selangor}}
| {{flagu|Malaysia}}
|-
| [[Bishkek]]
| Bishkek City
| {{flagu|Kyrgyzstan}}
|-
| [[Almaty]]
| [[File:Flag of Almaty.svg|24px]] Almaty{{ref|1|1}}
| {{flagu|Kazakhstan}}
|-
| [[Chelyabinsk]]
| {{flag|Chelyabinsk Oblast}}
| {{flagu|Russia}}
|-
| [[Mashhad]]
| [[File:Flag of Unknow.svg|24px]] [[Razavi Khorasan Province]]
| {{flagu|Iran}}
|}
{{Clear}}
<small>{{note|1|1}}[[Almaty]] is a state-level city of [[Kazakhstan]]</small>

==Notable people==
* [[Dilraba Dilmurat]]
* [[Gulnazar]]
* [[Yu Menglong]]
* [[Rushan Abbas]]
* [[Hassan Anvar]]
* [[Elnigar Iltebir]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==

=== Citations ===
{{Reflist|30em}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last1=Finley |first1=Joanne N. Smith |title=The Art of Symbolic Resistance: Uyghur Identities and Uyghur-Han Relations in Contemporary Xinjiang |date=12 September 2013 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-25678-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LQBBAQAAQBAJ |language=en |access-date=19 October 2015 |archive-date=22 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822014256/https://books.google.com/books?id=LQBBAQAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |last1=Gaubatz |first1=Piper Rae |title=Beyond the Great Wall: Urban Form and Transformation on the Chinese Frontiers |date=1996 |publisher=Stanford University Press |isbn=978-0-8047-2399-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=drGGEsi1fFEC |language=en |access-date=29 August 2020 |archive-date=13 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913143257/https://books.google.com/books?id=drGGEsi1fFEC |url-status=live }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Mao |first1=Sheng |title=More Than a Famine: Mass Exodus of 1962 in Northwest Xinjiang |journal=China Review |date=2018 |volume=18 |issue=2 |pages=155–184 |jstor=26435651 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26435651 |issn=1680-2012}}
* {{cite book |last1=Millward |first1=James A. |title=Beyond the Pass: Economy, Ethnicity, and Empire in Qing Central Asia, 1759–1864 |date=1 June 1998 |publisher=Stanford University Press |isbn=978-0-8047-9792-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ir2CAAAQBAJ |language=en |access-date=26 August 2016 |archive-date=25 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125170105/https://books.google.com/books?id=7ir2CAAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |last1=Millward |first1=James A. |author-mask=3 |title=Eurasian Crossroads: A History of Xinjiang |date=2007 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-13924-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8FVsWq31MtMC |language=en |access-date=21 February 2016 |archive-date=26 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126102811/https://books.google.com/books?id=8FVsWq31MtMC |url-status=live }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Wiens |first1=Herold J. |title=The Historical and Geographical Role of Urumchi, Capital of Chinese Central Asia |journal=Annals of the Association of American Geographers |date=December 1963 |volume=53 |issue=4 |pages=441–463 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-8306.1963.tb00459.x |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1467-8306.1963.tb00459.x |language=en |issn=0004-5608 |access-date=24 July 2022 |archive-date=24 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724231829/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1467-8306.1963.tb00459.x |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}
*{{Cite journal |last=Matsui |first=Dai |title= Ürümçi ve Eski Uygurca Yürüngçın üzerine [Ürümči and Yürüngčïn in Old Uigur]. |date=2013|language=en|pages=427-432|url=https://www.academia.edu/6007636/Dai_MATSUI_%C3%9Cr%C3%BCm%C3%A7i_ve_Eski_Uygurca_Y%C3%BCr%C3%BCng%C3%A7%C4%B1n_%C3%BCzerine_%C3%9Cr%C3%BCm%C4%8Di_and_Y%C3%BCr%C3%BCng%C4%8D%C3%AFn_in_Old_Uigur_In_Hatice_%C5%9Eirin_USER_Bu_lent_G%C3%9CL_eds_Yal%C4%B1m_Kaya_Bitigi_Osman_Fikri_Sertkaya_Arma%C4%9Fan%C4%B1_Ankara_2013_427_432 |journal=Yalım Kaya Bitigi: Osman Fikri Sertkaya Armağanı}}
{{refend}}

== Further reading ==
* [[Owen Lattimore|Lattimore, Owen]] . 1973. "Return to China's Northern Frontier." ''The Geographical Journal'' 139(2):233–42.
*Zang, Xiaowei. 2013. "[http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01419870.2011.644313#.Usgvo_sSPOs Ethnic variation in network composition in Ürümchi: do state policies matter?]" ''[[Ethnic and Racial Studies]]'' 36(1):179–98. {{doi|10.1080/01419870.2011.644313}}.

== External links ==
{{sister project links|d=Q16959|b=Pinyin/Urumqi|n=Category:Ürümqi|voy=Urumqi|c=Urumqi|s=no|q=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no|v=no}}
* {{Official website|http://www.urumqi.gov.cn/|Ürümqi Government official website}}

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