About Urumqi
Urumqi is very different from Beijing, Guangzhou, and Nanchang -- the places in China where I have travelled when adopting Noelle. It is about as far northwest as you can get without being in Kazakhstan, Russia or Mongolia. Urumqi is the most inland city in the world. Its a city of 2 million in the middle of a desert and it really only exists because it was a junction point on the silk trade route (interesting tidbid, Urumqi is the most inland city in the world). Xinjiang is very ethnically diverse with a large Muslim population and the majority of the population are minorities in China, including Uigurs, Kazahks, Kirgzh, Hui, Mongolians, and Manchu. The number of Chinese of Han ancestry has dramatically increased over the past decade as the party has tried to balance out the minority population. You can read a slightly more robust history of Xinjiang on encyclopedia.com. You can read a more touristy take on Xinjiang and Urumqi on travelchinaguide.com.
I hear you can eat delicious food in Urumqi for an entire week and not eat any Chinese food. I'm looking forward to it. I used to eat the most scrumptious Georgian food while in Moscow and I think that the Xinjiang options may be similar.
Xinjiang is just beautiful. There are some wonderful pictures available on-line:
- http://search.pbase.com/search?q=Xinjiang
- http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/China/West/Xinjiang/
- http://www.worldisround.com/articles/68187/
If you want to "watch" a recent adoption trip to Urumqi, the Meyer's were there adopting their most darling and adorable daughter in January.
The current weather in Urumqi:
The current weather in Guangzhou:
