Urumqi

Southern Pastures

Heavenly Lake

Urumqi, the capital of the Autonomous Region lies 900 metres above sea level is a huge town. About 75 percent of its population are Han Chinese and only 10 percent each are Uighur and Hui people. The Museum of the Autonomous Region is worth a visit. Apart from significant archaeological finds it also exhibits life-size models of the houses and tools of the most important nationalities in the region.
Red Hill is a landmark of the city with its emerald greenery and its religious pagoda and shrines. At an elevation of 910 meters (3,000 feet) above sea level, it is located at the very centre of the city.

West White Poplar Gulley is a unique experience for sightseers who love natural scenery like snow-capped peaks, dragon-spruce trees and wild flowers. The Kazakhs usually spend summer here between May and October and graze their herds.

Heavenly Lake (Tianchi Lake) is one of the main tourist attractions in China. It is hemmed in by the majestic snow-crowned peaks west of Bogda Mountain and it is geologically a moraine lake 3,400 meters (1,1125 feet) long, 1,500 meters (4920 feet) wide, 1,980 meters (6494 feet) above sea level. Covered with firs, pines, cypresses and white snow, it boasts of a spectacular sight.