Ürümqi, Regional capital in Xinjiang, China
Ürümqi is a city in northwestern China and serves as the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The city sits in a valley between mountain ranges and contains several districts with residential and commercial areas.
The city developed into a regional administrative center during the mid-18th century under the Qing dynasty. Before that time, the area was mainly crossed by nomadic groups moving through the valleys.
The local markets display traditional crafts and artworks from Uygur artisans throughout Eastern Turkestan, representing the regional artistic traditions.
The city is connected by rail to other regions of China and neighboring countries. Visitors will find different districts that can be explored on foot or by public transport.
The city lies quite far from the nearest oceans and is considered one of the most remote large cities in the world. This geographic feature shapes its continental climate with strong temperature differences between summer and winter.
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