Urumqi Travel Tips

A bird's eye view of Urumqi

Population: about 1.88 million

Area: 10,989 square km (about 4,243 square miles)

Zip code: 830000

Area Code 0991

Toilet facilities: using toilets in the downtown area of Urumqi costs about 0.2 Yuan.

Post office:
Yangzijiang Lu Branch (city center): 4, Yangzijiang Lu
Jie Fang Bei Lu Branch (city center): 61, Jiefang Bei Lu
Beijing Lu Branch (south suburb): 5, Henan Xi Lu

Money
Urumqi Branch of Bank of China offers currency exchange service. Address: 343, Jiefang Nan Lu.

China Agricultural Bank

Hospital:
Urumqi No. 1 People's Hospital
Address: 91, Jiankang Lu
Shi You Yi Hospital
Address: 22, Shengli Lu

Emergency Numbers
Fire: 119
Traffic: 122
Ambulance: 120
Police: 110

Useful Numbers
First Aid Center: 2833000
Zip code inquiring: 184
Phone number inquiring: 114
Tourist complaint: 2831902

Famous university:
Xinjiang University: 14, Shengli Lu
 

Xinjiang Agricultural University

Important Notes
1. Do not shake water off your wet hands in public.
2. Do not irritate Muslims by eating pork and by speaking about pigs in their presence.
3. Respect the customs and habits of ethnic minorities.
4. Protect yourselves against the elements in all seasons. Be careful about your drinking water. Boil it first.
5. You will come upon spectacular scenery, so do bring your photographic equipment along.
6. Avoid drinking hot tea after eating fruits to avoid diarrhea.
7. Though the 'clock time' in Xinjiang is just the same as the rest of the country, in fact there is a two hour difference in longitude between Urumqi and Beijing. For this reason the daily working hours are: 10:00 - 14:00, 15:30 - 19:30

While traveling there, you should modify you rest and dining times to be two hours later than if you were in a city in Middle China, otherwise you might feel out of step with local life. But don't forget that bus, train and flights all adopt Beijing Time. If you booked a flight to arrive or depart the city at around 08:00, then you may find it is quite dark at that time. Please keep this in mind when making reservations.

 Nightlife

May 1 Night Market, Urumqi

For many people their day begins at nightfall. You will see Urumqi street crowds making the most of their night lives. Places where people go for pleasure in their leisure have multiplied in this remote and inland city. In the shadow of brisk night market and gallant plaza, a lot of interesting restaurants, cafes, open-air bars and clubs have sprung catering to the needs and entertainment of people from all walks of life.

Go to May the First Night Market (Wuyi Yeshi) for the local food. It is the most popular gourmet downtown street. Food stalls in this street are well stocked with everything from kebabs to soup. People meet their families or friends here for relaxation as well as sampling the delicacies. The night market opens from 8:00pm to 1:00am daily.
 

Uygur Singing and Dancing Show

You can go to the Merry Square of the International Grand Bazaar in the evening to catch the Ethnic Singing and Dancing Show. There are two choices open for you. You may either see it in the open air or in the Banquet hall. The open-air option does not cost you money, but you had better be there well before the show starts at 6:00pm to find yourself a spot. The Banquet hall option charges you about 168 Yuan for dinner (buffet) and show.

Bars, a long establishment of the modern city, do reflect the unique regional culture. Most bars are in the city center. In the prosperous Jiefang Nan Lu, you come across dozens of pubs, internet cafes, bowling clubs, tea and coffee bars, and so on.

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