Idle Hour: Urumqi, Xinjiang, China

Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, China, is famous for its unique scenery, diverse culture and culinary paradise.

I was fortunate enough to come here to experience the ancient silk art of the Uyghur people, to taste such delicacies as barbecued meat and baked buns, and to visit the ancient city of Bazaar, where I felt the warm hospitality of the inhabitants. This city, which combines ancient and modern vitality, made me forget to come back.

A few days ago, I happened to have an opportunity to go to Urumqi in Xinjiang, China, because of the short time, the attractions there are too far away, so I could only play in Urumqi for one days, and today I'll share what I saw with you.

Hotan Second Street

Hetian second street is mainly some of the Xinjiang speciality catering, such as grabbing rice, mutton buns, barbecue meat, etc., these small shops inside the thing is still good, in the roadside stalls selling mainly baked naan, but also Xinjiang's sultanas, as well as other dried fruits.

My breakfast was settled inside this shop, I wanted to eat grabbed rice, but then said I had to wait for a long time, I didn't have enough time, so I ate four meat buns, which were filled with beef, the filling was very sufficient, and the taste was very good, these four buns were 10 yuan, and a pot of milk tea, a total of RMB 15 yuan, which I think is very good value for money.

Xinjiang Folk Street

After the second street of Hotan, I planned to go to Xinjiang Folk Street, at first I thought Xinjiang Folk Street was a street, but it turned out to be a building, the map said Xinjiang Folk Street is currently closed, I was not sure about it so I asked a police officer on the street, he told me it was open.

It is said that people who come to Urumqi will go to Erdaoqiao to see the big Zaba, as well as the nearby Xinjiang Minjie, before coming to check online again, are said to take pictures in this place is particularly beautiful.

Walking along Longquan Street is about 1 kilometre or so away, passing the Xinjiang Autonomous Region People's Hospital, and walking here I found that the map was accurate in saying that the place had been fenced off, and it was really closed for business.

Xinjiang's buses are particularly cheap, the whole 1 yuan, but the interval is too long, I seat 51 buses, waiting for more than half an hour, the car is particularly crowded, waiting for the car boredom when I saw the bus station posted an advertisement, is an advertisement for the sale of houses.

Look at this advert, the house in Xinjiang looks cheap, just don't know if it's true or not, see this picture of friends, don't take it seriously, so as not to be cheated and fooled.

Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar (XIGB)

Bazaar, a Uyghur word meaning bazaar and farmers' market, is found in both urban and rural areas of Xinjiang. Xinjiang is located in the middle of the Silk Road, a trade route between China and the West, and the people of all ethnic groups, especially the Uyghurs, have a tradition of business, respect for business, and business.

Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, completed on 26 June 2003, is the largest Grand Bazaar in the world, integrating Islamic culture, architecture, ethnic trade, entertainment and catering, and is the gathering place and exhibition centre of Xinjiang tourism products, the ‘Window of Xinjiang’, ‘Window of Central Asia’ and ‘Window of the World’. ‘In 2004, it was selected as one of the ‘Top Ten Buildings’ in Urumqi.

The hardware facilities of Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar include 100,000 square metres of super buildings. These buildings follow the Islamic architectural style, with the treatment of combining the traditional grinding of bricks against the seams and the modern finishing process, reflecting the changes of space and light and shadow, and recreating the commercial prosperity of the ancient Silk Road on the basis of covering the functionality of modern buildings and the sense of the times, and its strong national characteristics and regional culture are very affinity to the radiation of Central Asia and the Middle East.

An eighty metre high observation tower, but there is a fee. I didn't go up there because of the bad weather, so I don't know what I can see from up there. It's a bit of a shame to think about it now!

Mosque. I didn't see it at first because there were no signs, or maybe I didn't see the signs. It is said that people come every Friday for services and on Saturdays there are performances in this small square. Today happened to be Saturday, but maybe it was rainy or the time didn't work out (some people said there was a folk song and dance show in the evening) and I didn't see anything.

Walking Street No. 1, which is actually a national 4A scenic spot. The merchandise in here brings together the products and handicrafts of many countries and many nationalities on the Silk Road. It contains all kinds of branded clothing, shoes, hats, etc.; carpets, leather goods, knives, musical instruments, pottery and all kinds of handicrafts of gold, silver, copper and iron, etc.; as well as cosmetic products, all kinds of dried fruits and fruits, special cuisines and leisure and entertainment projects. Meanwhile, the presence of international business giants and world-famous brands has also brought together a thriving popularity for the Grand Bazaar.

Uyghur hand drums and musical instruments

Beautiful fine china

A variety of handmade musical instruments.

The 8,000 square metre food court is where I was going to enjoy my meal at lunchtime.

Very tempting looking roast lamb.

Delicate, small and cute little handmade ravioli.

A Chinese friend recommended the jar meat to me.

This is the unique Xinjiang lamb maw wrapped in meat. Mutton belly is a natural cooking vessel, soaked with seasoning into which the mutton will not leak, but also have enough flexibility. It is flavourful and nutritious.

For lunch, I ordered hand-held rice and grilled lamb chops, as well as grilled fish and grilled buns. Grilled lamb chop is too good, a few pieces of grilled lamb chop down, the other can not eat, but the grilled fish looks good, smells good, but the taste is average, the other is also very good.

Before leaving, I saw a few old Uyghur men playing musical instruments.

After lunch, it was already after 2pm. I don't want to turn around either, so let's go back.

It was a 20 minute metro ride, very clean and spacious, and cost RMB 20. I'm a little tired when I get back to the hotel and I'm going to take a good nap.

When I woke up it was 7pm. Dinner was going to be at the restaurant downstairs in the hotel. I noticed it when I checked in, people were coming and going and business was good so I figured it would taste good too.

This is the place. It's nice and chicly decorated.

The food was plentiful, well done, appetising to look at and to my taste. These were two of my favourites.

My friends from Xinjiang were so enthusiastic that I sat in the restaurant, eating and chatting, and drank a little bit of wine.

It was getting a little dark by the time I came out after dinner. I was going to go back to my room to rest, but my friend invited me to walk in the park again.

Hongshan Park

Red Mountain Park is an important one of Urumqi's urban parks, on the side of the Urumqi River. Red Mountain isn't actually very high, but there are a few more famous buildings on it.

This is the road up to Red Mountain Park, there are some small touristy consumer shops on the roadside, mainly some drinks or some snacks, I left the restaurant at 9:00 or so, and by the time I arrived at Red Mountain Park it was close to 10:00, and most of the shops had closed, and the barbecue stalls were closing up as well.

Red Mountain above a temple called the Great Buddha Temple, this building door may be refurbished, still looks quite spectacular, the temple is closed at night, so did not go in to see.

This is the Red Mountain Pagoda, which is said to be evil-suppressing, it ensures that the floods of the Urumqi River don't get violent, and in addition suppresses the devils on the opposite side of the Demon Mountain so that they can't come out and do harm to people.

There were a lot of young boys and girls taking night shots around the Red Mountain Pagoda, they all had professional looking cameras, I just had a mobile phone with me, so I was happy enough with myself to get this look.

This statue is Lin Zexu, the one who eliminated cigarettes at Humen, and I don't know much about his story with Xinjiang, so I won't explain more.

This is the Far View Building inside Red Mountain Park, which you have to pay to get up there, and there were a lot of people next to us spouting off about it again.

The attractions of Red Hill Park are all on this map, and my friend says there really aren't many attractions to visit specifically, but it's a great place for people to take a walk.

It's a community canteen that still insists on staying open until now, it's almost 11:00 and still hasn't closed, you can see their staff eating through the window, it's just so dedicated!

It's a large commercial centre building below Redhill, and across the street is also a commercial centre, but the name escapes me.

The night view of Urumqi is very beautiful, but my mobile phone can't take clear pictures at night, when I came back, I asked my friend to find some and send them to me, and I'll share them with you, I hope you like it, and I'd like to go back to see it again if I have the chance.