UEruemqi

According to Herold J Wiens, the name "Ürümqi" (Oirat: [yrəm t͡ʃə]) comes from the Oirat words ürü and mchi, together meaning "beautiful pasture". Japanese Turkologist Dai Matsui proposes that the name "Ürümqi" may have originated from the Old Uyghur word yürüng ('white', 'bright'), combined with the Chinese element chin (鎮; zhèn; 'fortified post', 'garrison'). Matsui notes that during the Tang dynasty, there was a garrison called Baishuizhen (白水鎮; 'White Water Garrison') along the route from Turpan toward the area of present-day Ürümqi. In this context, the Chinese bai ('white') could correspond to the Uyghur yürüng with the same meaning, while zhen was rendered as chin. Thus, an Old Uyghur toponym "Yürüng-chin" could have developed, which over time evolved into the modern form Ürümchi / Ürümqi. …

During prehistory, the site of the future Ürümqi was occupied by a nomadic people known in Chinese accounts as the Jushi, who lived mainly on the northern slopes of the surrounding Tianshan Mountains. The Jushi are often regarded as likely precursors of the Tocharian peoples, who later established city states in the Tarim Basin, south of the present site of Ürümqi. The oldest known settlement, a town called Urabo, was located about 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) from the southern suburbs of the present-day Ürümqi. 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 government, in 648 CE, the 22nd year of Emperor Taizong's reign, as part of the Protectorate General to Pacify the West. It was a seat of local government and collected taxes from the caravans along the northern route of the Silk Road. …

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 2,500 kilometres (1,600 mi) from the nearest coastline as Ürümqi is the closest major city to the Eurasian pole of inaccessibility, although Karamay and Altay, both in Xinjiang, are closer. The city has an administrative area of 10,989 square kilometres (4,243 sq mi) and has an average elevation of 800 metres (2,600 ft). The location 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, and a monument to this effect was erected there in the 1990s. The site is a local tourist attraction. …

Ürümqi is a major industrial center within Xinjiang. Ürümqi, together with Karamay and Korla, account for 64.5 percent of the total industrial output of Xinjiang. Ürümqi is also the largest consumer center in the region, recording ¥41.9 billion retail sales of consumer goods in 2008, an increase of 26 percent from 2007. As of 2025, the city's GDP was CN¥465.8 billion (US$65.2 billion), while the GDP per capita was around CN¥112,485 (US$15,748). 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. …

Grand Bazaar, a bazaar on South Jiefang Road (解放南路). Hong Shan (Red Mountain) is the symbol of Ürümqi, located in Hongshan Park. People's Park, south of Hongshan Park. People's Square Nanhu Square (南湖广场) Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum (新疆维吾尔自治区博物馆), which was completely rebuilt in the early 2000s. Heavenly Lake Scenic Area, a popular park with some of China's most famous alpine scenery, over two hours outside Ürümqi. Shuimogou Hot Springs (水磨沟温泉) is located 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Ürümqi. Xinjiang Silk Road Museum (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 (乌鲁木齐博物馆) is located at South Nanhu Road 123 (南湖南路123号). …

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. The 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. There are currently 9 routes operated, BRT1, BRT2, BRT3, BRT4, BRT5, BRT 6, its branch BRT 61, BRT 7, and its branch BRT 71. 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. Line 1 runs between Ürümqi Tianshan International Airport and Santunbei in downtown Ürümqi, with a total length of 27.615 km (17.2 mi) and 21 stations. It is fully underground. …