1. Introduction

Ürümqi City (Uyghur: ئۈرۈمچى شەھىرى‎, Latin Uyghur script: Ürümchi shehiri), abbreviated as Wushi and formerly known as Dihua, is the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. It is a core city of the Silk Road Economic Belt, the New Eurasian Land Bridge, and the Northern Slope of the Tianshan Mountains urban agglomeration. As the second-largest city in Northwest China, it serves as a crucial political, economic, cultural, financial, transportation, medical, and educational center for Xinjiang and the broader Northwest China region. It is also an international commercial and trade hub facing Central and West Asia, hosting one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Xinjiang Tianshan. The Municipal People's Government is located at No. 72 Nanhu Road, Shuimogou District.

Ürümqi is situated in central Xinjiang, bordering Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture to the east and west, Turpan City to the southeast, Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture to the southwest, Wujiaqu City to the northwest, and Altay Prefecture to the north. Located at the northern foothills of the middle Tianshan Mountains and the southern edge of the Junggar Basin, the city is surrounded by mountains on its eastern, southern, and western sides. The terrain slopes from higher elevations in the south to lower ones in the north, with the Bogda Mountains to the east, the Tianshan Mountains' Tianger Range to the south, the Karazha Mountains to the west, and the Gurbantünggüt Desert to the north. Rivers within its territory include the Ürümqi River, Toutun River, and Baiyang River. As of 2019, the city administers 7 districts and 1 county, covering a total area of 14,216.3 square kilometers. The built-up urban area spans 521.60 square kilometers, making it the largest metropolis in Central Asia. The city is also certified by Guinness World Records as the world's most remote large city from any ocean (2,500 kilometers). According to data from the Seventh National Population Census, as of November 1, 2020, Ürümqi had a permanent resident population of 4,054,369. The Han ethnic group accounts for approximately 76%, the Uyghur ethnic group about 11%, and the Hui ethnic group about 9%. The annual local fiscal revenue reached 69.354 billion yuan.

Ürümqi is recognized as a National Civilized City, National Garden City, National Model City for Mutual Support Between the Military and Civilians, China's Excellent Tourism City, and National Model City for Ethnic Unity and Progress. It ranks among China's Top 100 Best Commercial Cities. Since 2016, it has been awarded the title of "China's Top Ten Ice and Snow Tourism Cities" for six consecutive years.

2. Origin of the Name

The most likely origin of the name "Urumqi" is the Mongolian phrase meaning "beautiful pasture," reflecting the region's historical natural environment and nomadic cultural background. Today, Urumqi is the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and an important economic, cultural, and transportation hub in northwestern China.

3. History

3.1 Early Period

The history of Ürümqi can be traced back to the Neolithic Age, when humans already lived and thrived here. During the Western Han Dynasty, more than ten nomadic tribes were distributed in the Ürümqi area and its surroundings, historically known as the "Land of Thirteen States." The Protectorate of the Western Regions once stationed troops for garrison farming. The important hub of the ancient Silk Road was located in present-day Ürümqi. During the Three Kingdoms period, the Later Cheshi Kingdom built the city of Yulai in the southern suburbs of modern Ürümqi (around the present-day Wulabo Reservoir area), which was the first city in Ürümqi. Later, during the Jin and Sui dynasties, a new northern route of the Silk Road was opened, and Ürümqi became a strategic point along this new northern route. In 640 AD, the Tang Dynasty government established Tingzhou at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, governing four counties, with the present-day Ürümqi area belonging to Luntai County. The ruins of the ancient Wulabo city, located south of the Wulabo Reservoir in the southeastern suburbs of modern Ürümqi, are suspected to be the seat of Luntai County at that time. In 648 AD (the 22nd year of the Zhenguan era), the Tang Dynasty government established Luntai City about 10 kilometers south of the present-day city center, which was subordinate to Tingzhou (with its administrative seat in present-day Jimsar). Starting from 663, the Tang Dynasty government sent troops to cultivate land along the banks of the Ürümqi River. In 702, the Beiting Protectorate was established in Tingzhou, and the garrison in Luntai was increased. According to the New Book of Tang·Tufan Biography, "The garrison farming in Luntai and Yiwu was so prosperous that crops could be seen everywhere." In 771, the Tang Dynasty government also established the Jing Sai Army in Luntai.

During the Yuan Dynasty, northern Xinjiang became one of the nomadic areas of the Mongols in the western desert, with the area around Ürümqi being the nomadic region of the Khoshut tribe. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, part of this tribe remained in the local area, part followed Gushi Khan to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and part, along with the Torghut tribe, went to the Volga River region in Russia and other places. In the early Qing Dynasty, the area was ruled by the Dzungar Khanate.

3.2 City Founding

In 1755 (the 20th year of the Qianlong reign), when the Qing Dynasty pacified the Dzungar Khanate, Ürümqi began large-scale development. The Qing built a city here, stationed troops, encouraged garrison farming, and reduced grain taxes. Ürümqi's agriculture, commerce, and handicrafts experienced rapid development for a time, becoming a place known as "prosperous and affluent, surpassing areas beyond the pass." The initial development of Ürümqi was thus driven by the Qing government's military presence in Xinjiang. In 1758 (the 23rd year of the Qianlong reign), to accommodate population growth, garrison farming, and commercial trade, the Qing army first built an earthen city outside the present-day South Gate, with a circumference of 1.5 li and a height of 1.2 zhang. This was the prototype of the Ürümqi city walls. In 1763 (the 28th year of the Qianlong reign), the old earthen city was expanded northward, reaching a circumference of 5.4 li. Upon completion, Emperor Qianlong named the expanded city "Dihua." In 1772 (the 37th year of the Qianlong reign), a new city called Gongning City (also known as the Old Manchu City) was built west of Dihua City to station Manchu garrison troops. To this day, there is still a place name "Old Manchu City" in Ürümqi, roughly located in the area of present-day Xinjiang Agricultural University.

In 1773 (the 38th year of the Qianlong reign), the Ürümqi Tongzhi was changed to the Dihua Prefecture Magistrate, and the Ürümqi Assistant Military Governor was changed to the Ürümqi Military Governor. The Shaanxi-Gansu Governor petitioned and received approval to move the Barkol Circuit to Gongning City in Dihua Prefecture. Thus, Gongning City became the military and political center of the Qing Dynasty in the Western Regions. Because of this, the residents of Dihua City were primarily Han and Manchu. After the Qing government recovered Xinjiang in 1875 (the 1st year of the Guangxu reign), in 1880 (the 6th year of the Guangxu reign), a "New Manchu City" was built east of Dihua City. The original Dihua City was inhabited by civilians and merchants, commonly known as the "Han City." The area inside the present-day South Gate, North Gate, and the large and small West Gates is the original Han City. Modern Ürümqi also expanded from the original Han City to its surroundings. In 1884 (the 10th year of the Guangxu reign), the Qing government established Xinjiang Province and designated Dihua as the provincial capital. From then on, Dihua City was transferred from Gansu Province to Xinjiang Province, replacing Ili City as the political center of Xinjiang. In 1885 (the 11th year of the Guangxu reign), Dihua Directly Administered Prefecture was elevated to Dihua Prefecture, and Dihua County was added as the attached capital county.

3.3 Modern and Contemporary Era

In the 2nd year of the Republic of China (1913), the government of the Republic of China established Xinjiang Province, changed the Zhen-Di Circuit Intendant to an Observer, abolished Dihua Prefecture, and retained Dihua County. In the 29th year of the Republic of China (1940), the Dihua Municipal Government Committee was established. On November 1, the 34th year of the Republic of China (1945), Dihua was officially established as a city and a municipal government was formed. At the same time, the urban area was divided into the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth districts. Dihua County was subordinate to the Dihua Administrative Commissioner's Office, governing six townships, two pastoral areas, and Dabancheng Town. Below the district level, the Bao-Jia system was implemented.

On December 17, 1949, the city was re-divided into seven districts and 54 street offices.

On February 1, 1954, Dihua was renamed back to its original name "Ürümqi."

On August 10, 1999, the Nanshan Mining Area was renamed Nanquan District. On March 9, 2002, Nanquan District was renamed Dabancheng District.

On August 1, 2007, Miquan City of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture was merged into Ürümqi City. Miquan City and the Dongshan District of Ürümqi City were abolished, and the Midong District was established.

On May 19, 1989, the Ürümqi May 19th Riot occurred in the city, resulting in 150 injuries.

On July 5, 2009, the Ürümqi July 5th Incident occurred in the city, resulting in 197 deaths, 680 injuries, and damage to 633 households' houses, with a total area of 21,353 square meters.

In 2011, Ürümqi became one of China's five major assembly centers for China-Europe freight trains.

4. Geography

Urumqi City is located in central Xinjiang, situated at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains and on the southern edge of the Junggar Basin. It borders Turpan City to the east; is bounded by the Toutun River to the west, adjacent to Changji City and Wujiaqu City; neighbors Toksun County, Heshuo County, and Hejing County to the south; and is demarcated along the Bogda Mountains to the north, bordering Jimsar County, Fukang City, and Fuhai County. The total area is 14,216.3 square kilometers, with an urban planning control area of 1,600 square kilometers. In 2018, the built-up urban area covered 436 square kilometers.

The terrain of Urumqi is highly varied, with extensive mountainous areas. The land slopes from high in the south to low in the north. The highest point is Bogda Peak in the Tianshan Mountains, with an elevation of 5,445 meters; the lowest point is Mengjin Reservoir, at an elevation of 490.6 meters. Mountainous areas account for over 50% of the total area, and the average elevation of the urban district is 800 meters. There are 46 rivers in total, all inland rivers primarily fed by snow and ice meltwater. Their water levels vary significantly by season, and they dissipate into oases or plain reservoirs. They belong to five water systems: the Urumqi River, Toutun River, Baiyang River, Alagou, and Chaiwopu Lake. The total water resource volume is 996.9 million cubic meters, of which surface water resources amount to 919.8 million cubic meters, and groundwater resources amount to 77.1 million cubic meters. Glacier resources are abundant, mainly distributed in the Tianger Mountains upstream of the Urumqi and Toutun Rivers, as well as the Bogda Mountains in the east, with a reserve of 7.39 billion cubic meters and an average annual melt volume of 123 million cubic meters.

Urumqi has a semi-arid climate in the mid-temperate zone, with relatively short spring and autumn seasons and longer winter and summer seasons. The diurnal temperature range is large. Sunshine duration is long, and sunlight is abundant. The annual average temperature is 6.9°C, and the annual average precipitation is 286.3 mm. The hottest month, July, has an average temperature of 23.7°C, while the coldest month, January, has an average temperature of -12.6°C. Extreme high temperatures occasionally occur in summer, with the highest extreme temperature recorded at 42.1°C (August 1, 1973). From 1951 to 2015, there were 15 days with a maximum daily temperature ≥40°C. Extreme cold weather is common in winter, with the lowest extreme temperature recorded at -41.5°C (February 27, 1951), the lowest among provincial capitals.

Urumqi Meteorological Data

Urumqi Climate Data

Monthly Statistics

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------| | Record high °C (°F) | 9.9 (49.8) | 13.5 (56.3) | 23.7 (74.7) | 32.5 (90.5) | 37.0 (98.6) | 40.9 (105.6) | 41.0 (105.8) | 42.1 (107.8) | 37.0 (98.6) | 30.5 (86.9) | 19.2 (66.6) | 15.6 (60.1) | 42.1 (107.8) | | Average high °C (°F) | -7.4 (18.7) | -4.7 (23.5) | 2.7 (36.9) | 16.1 (61.0) | 23.1 (73.6) | 27.6 (81.7) | 30.1 (86.2) | 29.0 (84.2) | 23.1 (73.6) | 13.2 (55.8) | 2.0 (35.6) | -4.4 (24.1) | 12.5 (54.6) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | -12.6 (9.3) | -9.8 (14.4) | -1.7 (28.9) | 10.0 (50.0) | 16.7 (62.1) | 21.5 (70.7) | 23.7 (74.7) | 22.4 (72.3) | 16.7 (62.1) | 7.7 (45.9) | -2.5 (27.5) | -9.3 (15.3) | 6.9 (44.4) | | Average low °C (°F) | -16.6 (2.1) | -13.7 (7.3) | -5.4 (22.3) | 4.8 (40.6) | 11.2 (52.2) | 16.1 (61.0) | 18.2 (64.8) | 16.7 (62.1) | 11.2 (52.2) | 3.1 (37.6) | -5.9 (21.4) | -12.9 (8.8) | 2.2 (36.0) | | Record low °C (°F) | -34.1 (-29.4)| -41.5 (-42.7)| -33.4 (-28.1)| -14.9 (5.2) | -2.4 (27.7) | 4.6 (40.3) | 8.8 (47.8) | 5.0 (41.0) | -5.0 (23.0) | -12.4 (9.7) | -36.6 (-33.9)| -38.3 (-36.9)| -41.5 (-42.7)| | Average precipitation mm (inches) | 10.4 (0.41) | 10.0 (0.39) | 18.5 (0.73) | 32.3 (1.27) | 38.9 (1.53) | 36.2 (1.43) | 30.4 (1.20) | 23.3 (0.92) | 26.2 (1.03) | 26.3 (1.04) | 19.1 (0.75) | 14.6 (0.57) | 286.2 (11.27)| | Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 9.2 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 8.0 | 8.4 | 6.3 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 6.9 | 9.6 | 86.9 | | Average relative humidity (%) | 78 | 77 | 72 | 48 | 43 | 43 | 43 | 41 | 44 | 58 | 74 | 78 | 58 | | Mean monthly sunshine hours | 101.6 | 128.8 | 180.5 | 248.0 | 283.3 | 282.7 | 298.7 | 301.0 | 262.6 | 224.4 | 127.4 | 84.3 | 2,523.3 | | Percentage of Possible Sunshine | 35 | 44 | 49 | 62 | 63 | 61 | 64 | 70 | 70 | 66 | 44 | 30 | 57 |

• China Meteorological Administration

5. Administrative Divisions

Ürümqi City administers 7 districts and 1 county.

Districts: Tianshan District, Saybagh District, Xinshi District, Shuimogou District, Toutunhe District, Dabancheng District, Midong District County: Ürümqi County Among them, Xinshi District and the national-level Ürümqi High-tech Industrial Development Zone, as well as Toutunhe District and the national-level Ürümqi Economic and Technological Development Zone, implement a "district-government integration" system.

Administrative Divisions Map of Ürümqi City

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Ethnic Townships | |--------|------------------------------|---------------------------------|----------------|---------------|--------|--------|----|----|----|-----| | 650100 | Ürümqi City | Wūlǔmùqí Shì | 13,783.10| 4,054,369 | Shuimogou District | 830000 | 84 | 10 | 12 | 1 | | | ئۈرۈمچى شەھىرى | Ürümchi Shehiri | | | | | | | | | | 650102 | Tianshan District | Tiānshān Qū | 170.79 | 652,792 | Xingfu Road Subdistrict | 830000 | 16 | | | | | | تەڭرىتاغ رايونى | Tengritagh Rayoni | | | | | | | | | | 650103 | Saybagh District | Shāyībākè Qū | 420.94 | 799,539 | Yangtze River Road Subdistrict | 830000 | 16 | | | | | | سايباغ رايونى | Saybagh Rayoni | | | | | | | | | | 650104 | Xinshi District | Xīnshì Qū | 142.3 | 1,011,440 | Beijing Road Subdistrict | 830000 | 21 | 1 | 4 | | | | يېڭىشەھەر رايونى | Yéngisheher Rayoni | | | | | | | | | | 650105 | Shuimogou District | Shuǐmógōu Qū | 279.65 | 549,576 | Shuimogou Subdistrict | 830000 | 14 | | | | | | بۇلاقتاغ رايونى | Bulaqtagh Rayoni | | | | | | | | | | 650106 | Toutunhe District | Tóutúnhé Qū | 273.95 | 419,022 | West Railway Station Subdistrict | 830000 | 7 | | | | | | تۇدۇڭخابا رايونى | Tudungxaba Rayoni | | | | | | | | | | 650107 | Dabancheng District | Dábǎnchéng Qū | 4,768.60 | 35,540 | Dabancheng Town | 830000 | 3 | 1 | 3 | | | | داۋانچىڭ رايونى | Dawanching Rayoni | | | | | | | | | | 650109 | Midong District | Mǐdōng Qū | 3,396.57 | 512,870 | Gumudi Town | 830000 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | | | مىچۈەن-كۆكتاغ (مىدوڭ) رايونى | Michüen-Köktagh (Midong) Rayoni | | | | | | | | | | 650121 | Ürümqi County | Wūlǔmùqí Xiàn | 4,330.30 | 73,590 | Banfanggou Town | 830000 | | 3 | 3 | | | | Ürümchi County | Ürümchi Nahiyisi | | | | | | | | |

6. Economy

6.1 Overview

Ürümqi is a financial center on the Silk Road Economic Belt, a regional commercial and trade center in Central Asia, a regional financial center in China radiating across Xinjiang and Central Asia, and one of China's 31 financial centers. According to the results of the unified accounting of regional GDP in 2020, the annual regional GDP reached 333.732 billion yuan. Of this, the added value of the primary industry was 2.705 billion yuan; the added value of the secondary industry was 90.789 billion yuan; and the added value of the tertiary industry was 240.238 billion yuan. The per capita regional GDP was 93,030 yuan. The annual electricity consumption in the Ürümqi region was 37.429 billion kWh, the added value of industrial enterprises above designated size achieved 66.948 billion yuan, the annual local fiscal revenue completed 66.090 billion yuan, and the annual local fiscal expenditure was 85.811 billion yuan.

6.2 Primary Industry

In 2020, the total output value of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery reached 6.651 billion yuan. Calculated at comparable prices, this represented a year-on-year increase of 3.5%. Specifically, agricultural output value was 3.081 billion yuan, down 1.4%; forestry output value was 349 million yuan, up 88.5%; animal husbandry output value was 2.824 billion yuan, up 6.3%; fishery output value was 99 million yuan, down 20.3%; and output value of services supporting agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery was 298 million yuan, down 2.7%.

6.3 Secondary Industry

Ürümqi has formed ten major industrial clusters including petrochemicals, metallurgy, textiles, machinery manufacturing, high-tech industries, building materials, pharmaceuticals, food, light industry, and electronic information. The industrial categories are comprehensive, with the development of industries like petrochemicals and metallurgy taking a leading position within their sectors, becoming pillars of the secondary industry. The secondary industry accounts for 38.8% of the city's GDP. World and Chinese Fortune 500 companies such as Master Kong, Coca-Cola, Alcatel, SK, Kerry Logistics, Volkswagen, Veolia, HP, Siemens, Hanwha (Korea), LM Glasfiber (Denmark), Toyota, Socotherm (Italy), Carlsberg, Uni-President, Daewoo (Korea), Lufthansa, Sekisui Chemical (Japan), and Air Liquide (France) have established operations in Ürümqi. Ürümqi's tertiary industry is relatively developed, consistently accounting for over 60% of GDP. Ürümqi has over a hundred star-rated hotels of various levels, with international chain brands such as the luxury hotel brand Conrad, the upscale hotel brand Hilton, and the budget hotel brand Ibis also having entered the urban area. Major local enterprises include: Xinjiang Guanghui Group (Fortune Global 500), Pacific Construction (Fortune Global 500), Xinjiang Tebian Electric Apparatus Stock Co., Ltd., Xinjiang Hualing Group, Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co., Ltd., Zhongtai Group, Tianshan Aluminum, Xinjiang Tianye, Xinjiang Bayi Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Markor Investment Group, and Bingtuan Construction Engineering Group.

6.4 Tertiary Industry

Ürümqi is the core area of the regional financial center in the Silk Road Economic Belt core zone, a regional commercial and trade center in Central Asia, a regional financial center radiating across Xinjiang and integrating with Central Asia, and one of China's 31 financial centers. As of 2018, Xinjiang newly established 125 foreign-invested enterprises, a year-on-year decrease of 23.8%; the actual utilized foreign capital amounted to 210 million USD, a year-on-year increase of 0.2%. According to customs statistics, the total annual import and export volume reached 45.587 billion yuan, a decrease of 11.0% from the previous year. Of this, exports were 28.851 billion yuan, down 13.7%; imports were 16.736 billion yuan, down 6.0%. The annual number of domestic and international tourists (including day-trippers) received was 60.0374 million, a decrease of 20.1% from the previous year, including 8,500 inbound tourists, down 96.9%. The total annual tourism revenue was 47.918 billion yuan, down 57.8%, including inbound tourism revenue of 23 million yuan, down 97.3%.

Listed Companies By the end of 2019, there were 32 domestic listed companies and 4 H-share listed companies. Among the domestic listed companies, 20 were on the Main Board, 9 on the SME Board, and 3 on the ChiNext Board. The total share capital was 67.163 billion shares, an increase of 0.9% from the previous year; the total market capitalization was 406.134 billion yuan, an increase of 4.9%. There were 2 corporate securities companies and 72 securities business departments. There was 1 futures company and 6 futures business departments[112]. By the end of 2019, Ürümqi City had 217 insurance institutions, a decrease of 4 from the previous year. The premium income of insurance institutions was 21.824 billion yuan, an increase of 10.0% from the previous year. Of this, property insurance accounted for 5.650 billion yuan, up 16.5%; life insurance accounted for 16.174 billion yuan, up 7.9%. The annual payment of various insurance claims and benefits was 6.494 billion yuan, an increase of 2.3% from the previous year. Of this, property insurance claims were 2.778 billion yuan, up 11.7%; life insurance claims were 3.716 billion yuan, down 3.8%.

Commercial Districts

Erdaoqiao Ethnic Musical Instrument Shops Ürümqi's famous commercial circles mainly include over ten major business districts such as Erdaoqiao, Big and Small Cross, Zhongshan Road, Big and Small Ximen, South Railway Station, Youhao Road, Hualing, and Nanhu in the old city area. Among them, the Erdaoqiao business district is an ethnic trade and tourist reception area built with tourism characteristics. The Big and Small Cross business district is a high-end commercial and financial district. The Zhongshan Road business district focuses on electronic technology, computers, and communications. The Big and Small Ximen business district focuses on clothing wholesale and retail. The Bianjiang Hotel business district primarily serves foreign trade. The remaining business districts, such as Railway Bureau, Nanhu, and High-speed Rail Station, are characterized by fashion shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Luxury shopping centers: Maison Mode • Urumqi, CCmall, Tianshan Department Store, Shanshan Outlets, etc. Large commercial complexes: Xinjiang Youhao Shopping Center, Xinjiang Huijia Times Department Store, Wanda Plaza, Vanke Plaza, Wuyue Plaza, etc.

Convention and Exhibition Industry

China-Eurasia Expo: The China-Eurasia Expo is one of the main national-level investment and trade fairs in western China. Ürümqi is the permanent host city for the China-Eurasia Expo. On September 2, 1992, the first Ürümqi Border Local Economic and Trade Fair was held in Ürümqi, targeting the former Soviet Union and Eastern European countries, focusing on border barter trade and economic cooperation. In 1994, with the approval of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, the name was changed to "Ürümqi Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Fair". The first China-Eurasia Expo was held from September 1 to 5, 2011, at the Xinjiang International Convention and Exhibition Center. Xinjiang International Auto Industry Expo: The Xinjiang Auto Expo is the largest, most branded, and premier auto show in Northwest China, becoming the largest international auto show in Central Asia. China Xinjiang International Coal Industry Expo: An important event in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and one of Asia's two major coal exhibitions. Xinjiang International Convention and Exhibition Center: One of the largest and most comprehensive international convention and exhibition centers in western China facing Central Asia. The indoor exhibition area of Phase I of the Xinjiang International Expo Center is three times that of the old center, at 15,000 square meters; the total underground building area is about 17,400 square meters; the total outdoor area is about 199,400 square meters, including a 45,000 square meter outdoor exhibition area. Additionally, it includes a 40,000 square meter parking lot, a 25,000 square meter front square, and 89,400 square meters of landscaping. It is 486 meters long and 130.5 meters wide. The exhibition hall uses large-span beam string trusses with a span of 108 meters, the third-largest span in China. The conference center is designed in the shape of an ellipsoidal "bright moon," with design difficulty and audience capacity ranking among the top of similar buildings nationwide. The convention center has 6 main exhibition halls, and the conference center can accommodate meetings for 4,000 people.

Financial Industry

Xinjiang is committed to building Ürümqi into a regional international financial center on the Silk Road Economic Belt. As of the end of July 2016, among the 45 Xinjiang enterprises listed on the A-share market, 28 were from Ürümqi. The number of Ürümqi enterprises listed on the New Third Board and the Xinjiang Equity Exchange Center also ranked first in Xinjiang. Financial institutions are also accelerating their layout in Ürümqi. The Xinjiang Branch of Pakistan's Habib Bank has settled in Ürümqi. By the end of 2018, the number of banking institution entities in Xinjiang reached 147, an increase of 12 from the end of 2014; the number of various bank branch outlets was 4,152, an increase of 592 from the end of 2014. There were 50 securities and futures institution entities in Xinjiang, an increase of 24 from the end of 2014. There were 34 insurance entities, an increase of 4 from the beginning of 2015.

Domestic Banks

China Development Bank Bank of Beijing China Merchants Bank Agricultural Bank of China Bank of China Bank of Communications China Construction Bank Hua Xia Bank China Everbright Bank Bank of Ürümqi Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Ping An Bank China CITIC Bank Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Postal Savings Bank of China Bank of Xinjiang China Minsheng Bank Industrial Bank Kunlun Bank Tianshan Rural Commercial Bank The Export-Import Bank of China China Guangfa Bank Xinjiang Huihe Bank Hami City Commercial Bank

International Banks

The Bank of East Asia, Habib Bank

Industrial ParksIt is the first national eco-industrial demonstration park in Northwest China, located in the northwest of Urumqi, integrating a national development zone, comprehensive bonded zone, export processing zone, administrative district, and military-civilian cooperation zone. Established in August 1994 with the approval of the State Council, it is the first national-level economic and technological development zone in Xinjiang. In January 2011, it merged with the municipal administrative district of Toutunhe District, implementing the "integration of district and government," with the planned management area expanding to 480 square kilometers. In 2013, it became the first park in Xinjiang with an industrial output value exceeding 100 billion yuan. In 2015, its fiscal revenue surpassed 10 billion yuan. In February 2018, after an administrative adjustment, the area increased to 490 square kilometers. The park has attracted projects such as SAIC Volkswagen, China Railway Construction Heavy Industry, CRRC, GAC Group, Amer, Bainawei, and Jinsheng Zhuolang. It has established four major information industry parks: the Xinjiang Software Park, Cloud Computing Industrial Base, Xinjiang International E-commerce Industrial Park, and Xinjiang Satellite Application Industrial Park. The park hosts over 500 enterprises, with a total revenue of nearly 5 billion yuan, creating employment for 24,000 people.

High-Tech Industrial Development Zone
Located in the eastern part of Xinshi District, the total planned area is 326 square kilometers. The jurisdiction is a township-level unit under the administration of Urumqi City. Established in August 1992, it was approved as a national high-tech industrial development zone by the National Development and Reform Commission and the State Council in November of the same year. The permanent population of the zone is 800,000. The Urumqi High-Tech Industrial Development Zone is one of the first 54 national high-tech industrial development zones approved by the State Council. In 2017, it was ranked among the top 100 districts in China for comprehensive strength. In October 2019, it ranked 34th in the National Top 100 Districts for Comprehensive Strength. The jurisdiction hosts over 500 units, including central government agencies, autonomous region departments, military units stationed in Urumqi, armed police forces, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. It is also home to more than 20 research institutions, such as the Xinjiang Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences, as well as 33 colleges and vocational schools.

Comprehensive Bonded Zone
The Urumqi Comprehensive Bonded Zone is the third comprehensive bonded zone in Xinjiang, officially approved by the State Council on July 20, 2015. The planned area for the bonded zone development project is 2.41 square kilometers. It is a special customs supervision zone integrating functions such as bonded processing, bonded logistics, trade in services, international procurement, international distribution and delivery, international transit, after-sales services, testing and maintenance, exhibition and display, financial services, and scientific research and development.

Cross-Border E-Commerce Comprehensive Pilot Zone
On April 27, 2020, the State Council issued State Letter No. 47 (2020), approving the establishment of the Cross-Border E-Commerce Comprehensive Pilot Zone in Urumqi City.

7. Transportation

7.1 Overview

Ürümqi is an international comprehensive transportation hub port on the New Eurasian Land Bridge, a major transportation hub in Northwest China, one of China's eight major international aviation hubs for civil aviation, one of the five major assembly centers for China-Europe Railway Express, and a transit station for the Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe International Railway. It was also designated as one of the 20 international comprehensive transportation hub cities in the "National Comprehensive Three-Dimensional Transportation Network Plan Outline" issued by authorities in 2021. Ürümqi is also an international aviation (cargo) hub, achieving air connectivity with all provincial capitals in China. There are 28 airlines operating scheduled flights at Xinjiang airports. A total of 237 scheduled routes are operated, including 235 domestic passenger routes and 2 cargo routes. Flights connect Ürümqi with 63 domestic cities outside Xinjiang and 18 cities within Xinjiang. International flight points are also increasing year by year, with nearly 10 international cargo routes already opened to Central Asia and Europe. As a railway hub station with strong international transport service functions, the city relies on the Lanzhou-Xinjiang High-Speed Railway, the Northern Xinjiang Railway, and the Southern Xinjiang Railway to form a rapid railway transportation network centered on Ürümqi. Goods from mainland China are transshipped through Ürümqi to Central Asia, West Asia, and Europe, forming an international corridor linking east and west, with rapidly growing comprehensive transportation strength. International mail in Xinjiang is centered on the Ürümqi International Mail Exchange Bureau and Exchange Station, which handles 99.8% of the total international mail volume in Xinjiang.

7.2 International Corridors

The New Eurasian Land Bridge, or the New Century Eurasian Land Bridge, is one of the six economic corridors of China's Belt and Road Initiative. On September 12, 1990, the western section of the Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway and the Soviet Turkestan-Siberia Railway were successfully connected between the Alashankou Station in Xinjiang at the Sino-Soviet border and the Druzhba Station in the Soviet Union, marking the full completion of the New Eurasian Land Bridge. This corridor is a railway route reaching Europe through Central and West Asia. Countries along the route include Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, and finally Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The Ürümqi International Land Port Area is located in the Ürümqi Economic and Technological Development Zone, with a planned area of 67 square kilometers. Its development positioning is as a national logistics hub, an international supply chain organization center, a highland for open modern industrial agglomeration, and the core area of the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

7.3 Highways

Major Highways: G30 Lianyungang-Khorgas Expressway, G7 Beijing-Ürümqi Expressway, G3003 Ürümqi Ring Expressway, Turpan-Ürümqi-Dahuangshan Expressway (Turpan-Ürümqi-Fukang Dahuangshan), Ürümqi-Kuitun Expressway (Ürümqi-Kuitun), Hetan Expressway, Ürümqi-Changji First-Class Highway, National Highway 216, National Highway 312, National Highway 314, Outer Ring Road

Currently Operating Long-Distance Bus Stations in the City: Anyunjie Bus Station (formerly Bayi Jungong Bus Station), Mingyuan Bus Station (only往返克拉玛依), Midong District Bus Station, High-Speed Rail International Bus Station, Land Port International Bus Station

Xinjiang's railway network has basically achieved a 4-hour交通圈 centered on Ürümqi, reaching Hami in eastern Xinjiang, Bole in the west, Korla in southern Xinjiang, and Karamay in the north in about four hours or less. Ürümqi Railway Station is not only the terminus of the Lanzhou-Xinjiang Passenger Dedicated Line on the Land Bridge Corridor but also the junction of the Northern Xinjiang Railway and the Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway, serving as an important railway hub for directions to various prefectures in northern and southern Xinjiang. Ürümqi, Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Chongqing, and Xi'an are the five major China-Europe Railway Express hub node cities. Through the Ürümqi Assembly Center for China-Europe Railway Express, connections can be made to 25 cities in 18 countries across Central Asia and Europe.

Railways: Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway, Northern Xinjiang Railway, Lanzhou-Xinjiang Passenger Dedicated Line, Ürümqi-Jiangjunmiao Railway

Railway Passenger Stations: Ürümqi Railway Station, Ürümqi South Railway Station

Major Railway Freight Stations: Ürümqi West Station, Ürümqi North Station, Ürümqi East Station, Wulabo Station, Yanhu Station

Airport Information

Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport Terminal 3

The following are airports in and around Ürümqi:

Civil Airports

• Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport Located 16 kilometers northwest of the city, it was one of China's four major airports in the early 1980s. Today, it is one of China's five major gateway airports alongside Kunming Changshui International Airport and one of the eight major domestic regional hubs. In 2018, its passenger throughput was 23.028 million, ranking among the top in the country. It primarily serves Ürümqi, Changji, and other cities.

• Turpan Jiaohe Airport Located in Turpan City, 168 kilometers from the capital Ürümqi, it is the third 4E-class airport in Xinjiang. In October 2019, Ürümqi International Airport and Turpan Airport merged their operations and management, with Turpan Airport's functional定位 changing to become the second airport for Ürümqi International Airport. It primarily serves Turpan City and also acts as the main alternate airport for Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport.

• Zhundong (Qitai) Airport On October 22, 2021, the Civil Aviation Administration of Xinjiang officially approved the "Master Plan for Xinjiang Zhundong (Qitai) Civil Airport." The airport is located in Xibeiwan Town, Qitai County, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, about 16 kilometers south of Qitai County town and 200 kilometers from the capital. It is a 4C-class支线机场, also serving general aviation and acting as an alternate airport for Ürümqi Airport.

Military Airports

Ürümqi Nanshan Airport (military), Dongshan Airport

Airlines

Ürümqi Air made its maiden flight on August 29, 2014, and has basically formed a route network structure centered on Ürümqi International Airport, radiating to major cities within Xinjiang and across China. Additionally, seven airlines have successively established base companies and operational bases at Ürümqi Airport: China Southern Airlines Xinjiang Branch, Hainan Airlines Xinjiang Branch, Tianjin Airlines Xinjiang Branch, Air China Xinjiang Branch, Ürümqi Air, Shandong Airlines, and Sichuan Airlines.

Urban Public Transportation

Ürümqi's public bus system was established in 1953, initially as a bus station. The Ürümqi Public Bus Company was established in 1965. The Ürümqi Public Transportation General Company was established in February 1993. On May 29, 2006, the enterprise was restructured and reorganized into the Ürümqi Public Transportation Group Co., Ltd. and the Ürümqi Public Transport Zhenbao Bus Co., Ltd. Currently, the city's buses are operated by 8 companies. The public transportation system is continuously improving, now comprising 7 modes: rail transit,常规公交, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT),环线快客,直达专线,大站快线, and社区巴士. There are 237 bus routes with a total length of 3,824.8 kilometers and 4,458 vehicles. Annual bus passenger volume is about 700 million, with a daily ridership of about 1.8 million. The 500-meter coverage rate of bus stops in the central urban area is 100%, with 65 bus depots/stations.

Bus Companies

• Ürümqi Public Transportation Group As of June 2021, the group operates 158 routes (including 125常规线路 (含乡村公交、县城公交), 22社区巴士, 5大站快线, 1直达专线, and 5通勤线路). The total route length is 2,381.2 kilometers, with a network length of 912.1 kilometers. It has 2,164 registered large buses and 251 medium-sized vehicles, including 120 self-operated medium buses and 131 outsourced medium buses (出租公司专线车). The group's taxi company has 2,064 registered vehicles, including 2,025常规公交出租汽车, 25纯电出租汽车, and 14通勤班车.

• Ürümqi Zhenbao Bus Co., Ltd. In 2006, the Ürümqi Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government introduced foreign capital to restructure the former Ürümqi Public Transportation General Company and establish the large foreign-funded bus enterprise Zhenbao Bus. As of 2019, Ürümqi Zhenbao Bus operates 1,140 vehicles, including 317 new energy vehicles comprising plug-in hybrids and纯电动车辆. It operates 58 bus routes.

• Other Companies:

  • 12th Division Tunping Bus Company: Routes 1-7 of the 12th Division.
  • Haotian Company: Wuda Line, Shuiban快客, Route 11 (Wuchang Line), Route 528 (Xinhua Line).
  • Siping Commerce and Trade Company: Routes 6001, 6002, 6004, 6006.
  • Tianyuan International Travel Service (formerly Civil Aviation Passenger Transport Company): Airport Line 1, Airport Line 2.
  • Xinjiang Yuntong Investment Company: Route D011.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

Ürümqi BRT Line 2 Ürümqi City Bus Rapid Transit Operation Co., Ltd. Ürümqi BRT was officially launched in September 2011. Currently, it operates 9 lines, 1区间线, and 1支线: BRT1, BRT2, BRT4, BRT5, BRT6, BRT7, BRT71, 6502, 6306, 5007 (operated by the BRT company). The total length is approximately 58 km.

Rail TransitUrumqi Metro is the 35th urban rail transit system to commence operation in mainland China and the second in the Northwest region. Its first line, Line 1, began trial operations on October 25, 2018, and Line 2 is expected to open in June 2026. The planned Urumqi urban rail transit network will consist of 12 lines, comprising 8 intra-city lines and 4 regional connection lines. The total length of the 8 intra-city lines is 257.1 kilometers.

Urumqi-Changji Maglev: As of December 2021, the Urumqi-Changji Maglev project has entered the substantive preliminary implementation stage. The line starts from Urumqi Diwopu International Airport, passes through the May First New Town of the 12th Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and ends at Changji West Outer Ring Station. The total length of the project is 24.1 kilometers, with 7.7 kilometers located within Changji.

Taxi/Ride-Hailing

In Urumqi, the starting fare for taxis is ¥10 for the first 3 kilometers, after which it is ¥1.3 per kilometer, with a waiting fee of ¥0.35 per minute.

Postal and Telecommunications

In 2019, the total revenue from postal and telecommunications services reached ¥7.186 billion, a decrease of 0.5% compared to the previous year. Among this, postal service revenue was ¥481 million, down by 5.9%, while telecommunications service revenue was ¥6.705 billion, down by 0.1%. The number of fixed-line telephone subscribers in the city was 1.0512 million, a decrease of 84,700 from the end of the previous year. The fixed-line telephone penetration rate was 46.81 per 100 people. By the end of the year, the number of mobile phone subscribers reached 7.1534 million, an increase of 386,900, including 669,900 3G users and 3.3041 million 4G users. The mobile phone penetration rate was 318.58 per 100 people. The number of broadband internet subscribers was 2.0018 million, an increase of 299,400. The annual operating revenue of the software and information technology services industry was ¥14.575 billion, an increase of 0.2% compared to the previous year.

8. Education

Urumqi is the city with the highest concentration of higher education institutions in Xinjiang. Following the nationwide restructuring of higher education institutions in the 1950s and decades of development, Urumqi now has 26 regular higher education institutions, including one Project 211 university.

Higher Education Institutions

Gate of Xinjiang University (Honghu Campus) Undergraduate Institutions

Xinjiang University Xinjiang Medical University Xinjiang Normal University Xinjiang Agricultural University Xinjiang Arts University Xinjiang University of Finance and Economics Xinjiang Institute of Engineering Xinjiang Police College Xinjiang Tianshan Vocational and Technical University

Xinjiang Medical University Academic Exchange Center Xinjiang Medical University Continuing Education College Vocational (Associate Degree) Institutions

Main Campus Teaching Building of Xinjiang Normal University, China Urumqi Vocational University Xinjiang Vocational University Xinjiang Light Industry Vocational and Technical College Xinjiang Communications Vocational and Technical College Xinjiang Normal College Xinjiang Sports Vocational and Technical College Xinjiang Railway Vocational and Technical College Xinjiang Modern Vocational and Technical College Xinjiang Energy Vocational and Technical College Xinjiang Construction Vocational and Technical College Xinjiang Kexin Vocational and Technical College Corps Open University Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Xingxin Vocational and Technical College Xinjiang Industrial Vocational and Technical College Adult Education Institutions

Xinjiang Open University Corps Radio and Television University Military Institutions

Engineering University of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force. Secondary Education Schools

Library of Urumqi Senior High School Urumqi No.1 High School Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps No.2 High School Urumqi No.8 High School Urumqi Senior High School Urumqi Bayi High School Urumqi No.70 High School (formerly Urumqi Railway Bureau No.3 High School) Xinjiang Experimental High School Urumqi Foreign Languages School (formerly Urumqi No.12 High School) Urumqi No.54 High School Urumqi No.41 High School Urumqi No.20 High School Urumqi No.68 High School (formerly Urumqi Railway Bureau No.1 High School) Urumqi No.69 High School (formerly Urumqi Railway Bureau No.2 High School) Urumqi No.9 High School Urumqi No.19 High School Urumqi No.50 High School Urumqi No.23 High School Urumqi No.13 High School Urumqi No.101 High School Urumqi Xingfu High School

9. Population

According to the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the city's permanent resident population was 3,112,559. Compared with the 2,081,834 people recorded at zero hour on November 1, 2000, in the Fifth National Population Census, the total increase over the ten years was 1,030,725 people, a growth of 49.51%. The average annual growth rate was 4.10%. Among the city's permanent resident population, the male population was 1,610,775, accounting for 51.75%; the female population was 1,501,784, accounting for 48.25%.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 4,054,369. Compared with the 3,112,559 people from the Sixth National Population Census, the total increase over the ten years was 941,810 people, a growth of 30.26%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.68%. Among them, the male population was 2,116,010, accounting for 52.19% of the total population; the female population was 1,938,359, accounting for 47.81% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 109.17. The population aged 0–14 was 590,500, accounting for 14.56% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 2,926,704, accounting for 72.19% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 537,165, accounting for 13.25% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 370,224, accounting for 9.13% of the total population. The population living in urban areas was 3,882,487, accounting for 95.76% of the total population; the population living in rural areas was 171,882, accounting for 4.24% of the total population.

At the end of 2022, the city's permanent resident population was 4.0824 million. The urbanization rate of the permanent resident population was 96.5%; the birth rate was 5.3‰; the death rate was 5.03‰; the natural growth rate was 0.27‰.

9.1. Ethnic Groups

Ürümqi is a city inhabited by multiple ethnic groups. There are 13 indigenous ethnic groups, including the Han, Uyghur, Hui, Kazakh, Mongol, Manchu, Xibe, Daur, Kirgiz, Uzbek, Tatar, Tajik, and Russian. Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han population is 2,331,654, accounting for 74.91% of the total population, while the population of various ethnic minorities is 780,905, accounting for 25.09% of the total population. Nearly 50 ethnic groups reside here.

Ethnic Composition of Ürümqi's Permanent Resident Population (November 2010)

| Ethnic Group | Han | Uyghur | Hui | Kazakh | Mongol | Manchu | Xibe | Russian | Tujia | Dongxiang | Other Ethnic Groups | |------------------|--------------|------------|-------------|------------|------------|------------|----------|--------------|-----------|---------------|-------------------------| | Population | 2,331,654 | 387,878 | 280,186 | 68,076 | 10,454 | 8,541 | 4,820 | 3,010 | 2,869 | 2,333 | 12,738 | | Percentage of Total Population (%) | 74.91 | 12.46 | 9.00 | 2.19 | 0.34 | 0.27 | 0.15 | 0.10 | 0.09 | 0.07 | 0.41 | | Percentage of Ethnic Minority Population (%) | --- | 49.67 | 35.88 | 8.72 | 1.34 | 1.09 | 0.62 | 0.39 | 0.37 | 0.30 | 1.63 |

10. Religion

Urumqi is the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and an important economic, cultural, and transportation hub in northwestern China. As a city inhabited by multiple ethnic groups, Urumqi's religious culture exhibits diverse characteristics. The main religions include Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Catholicism, and others.

1. Islam
   Main adherent ethnic groups: Uygur, Hui, Kazakh, and others.

   Historical background: Islam was introduced to Xinjiang in the 10th century and gradually became the predominant religion in the Urumqi region. Urumqi was a key node on the ancient Silk Road, and Islam took root here through trade and cultural exchanges.

   Religious sites: There are many famous mosques in Urumqi, such as the Shaanxi Grand Mosque near the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar and the South Gate Mosque, which serve as important venues for Muslims to conduct religious activities.

   Religious activities: Muslims strictly adhere to the Five Pillars of Islam (Shahada, Salat, Sawm, Zakat, and Hajj) and celebrate important festivals such as Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr.

2. Buddhism
   Historical background: Buddhism was the predominant religion in the Xinjiang region before the introduction of Islam. There are many Buddhist cultural sites in and around Urumqi, such as the Red Hill Pagoda in Red Hill Park.

   Current status: Today, Buddhism has a relatively small influence in Urumqi, primarily focused on the preservation and study of historical and cultural relics.

3. Christianity and Catholicism
   Current status: Christianity and Catholicism have smaller followings in Urumqi, mainly among the Han and other minority ethnic groups. There are a few Christian churches and Catholic churches in Urumqi that provide religious services to believers.

4. Other Religions
   Urumqi also has a small number of adherents of other religions, such as Taoism and Eastern Orthodoxy, but their scale and influence are limited.

11. Culture

Urumqi's religious culture possesses profound historical depth and diverse characteristics. The integration of Islam with Buddhism, Christianity, and other religions makes Urumqi a significant region for the study of religious history and culture. The religious architecture, historical sites, and festival activities in Urumqi are not only manifestations of religious beliefs but also important components of the local cultural heritage.

12. Sister Cities

List of Domestic Sister Cities Established by Urumqi City
No. | Agreement Date | Sister City | Remarks
---|---|---|---
1 | April 1984 | Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province | Designated as a paired support city
2 | September 1985 | Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province | Designated as a paired support brother city
3 | October 1985 | Chengdu City, Sichuan Province | Designated as a brother city
4 | November 2, 1985 | Jiuquan City, Gansu Province |
5 | August 1987 | Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province |
6 | October 1987 | Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province | Designated as a sister city
7 | September 19, 1990 | Changchun City, Jilin Province |
8 | November 1, 1991 | Luoyang City, Henan Province |
9 | September 7, 1992 | Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province |
10 | September 10, 1992 | Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province |
11 | 1992 | Mianyang City, Sichuan Province |
12 | December 10, 1992 | Xuanwu District, Beijing City |
13 | September 8, 1993 | Deyang City, Sichuan Province |
14 | July 30, 1994 | Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province | Designated as a sister city
15 | August 11, 1994 | Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province | Designated as a brother city
16 | August 24, 1994 | Kaifeng City, Henan Province |
17 | October 20, 1994 | Wuhu City, Anhui Province |
18 | November 9, 1994 | Nanchong City, Sichuan Province |
19 | July 28, 2001 | Shenyang City, Liaoning Province | Comprehensive cooperation agreement
20 | April 1, 2001 | Liaoyuan City, Jilin Province | Economic cooperation city
21 | December 3, 2003 | Luwan District, Shanghai City |
22 | June 2004 | Quanzhou City, Fujian Province |
23 | September 2008 | Rizhao City, Shandong Province |
24 | October 2008 | Zhengzhou City, Henan Province |
25 | November 2008 | Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province | Sister city

List of International Sister Cities Established by Urumqi City
No. | Agreement Date | Sister City | Remarks
---|---|---|---
1 | July 12, 1985 | Peshawar, Pakistan |
2 | September 7, 1992 | Minsk, Belarus |
3 | March 4, 1993 | Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan |
4 | November 17, 1993 | Almaty, Kazakhstan |
5 | May 23, 1996 | Narrandera, New South Wales, Australia |
6 | September 10, 1999 | Dushanbe, Tajikistan |
7 | September 27, 2000 | Orem, Utah, USA |
8 | April 23, 2004 | Osan, South Korea |

Cities with Signed Letters of Intent or Memorandums for Friendly Relations
No. | Agreement Date | Sister City | Remarks
---|---|---|---
1 | December 8, 2000 | Mashhad, Iran | Memorandum
2 | November 5, 2001 | Rimouski, Canada | Letter of Intent
3 | July 26, 2002 | Chelyabinsk, Russia | Letter of Intent
4 | November 3, 2003 | Stockport, United Kingdom | Letter of Intent

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Shuimogou District

Shuimogou District

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