Urumqi is the colorful, busy capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in Western China. Urumqi has been a hub for transport & commerce in the Xinjiang region for two thousand years ever since travelers first forged the northern route of the Silk Road across China. It now acts as a hinge for visitors to the entire Xinjiang region, and is the political, economic and cultural center of Xinjiang. It also has the distinction of being further from the ocean than any other city in the world!

Shrouded in myth and legend, the delicate scenery of nearby Bogda Mountain and the Southern Pastures after which Urumqi was named (Urumqi means ''Beautiful Pastures'' in the Mongolian language) are two of the highlights in a feast of natural wonders. Fragrant wildflowers and lazy fishing boats welcome visitors to Heavenly Lake. This ''Pearl of Heavenly Mountain'' is a perfect place to reflect on the tragic love story of Xi Wang Mu whose heart was broken here. Red Hill has its own mythology, being half of a vanquished dragon, whose two sides have supposedly tried to reunite across the valley between them to flood the surrounding villages. Open minded visitors may also enjoy trying to spot a monster in the lake at Kanas Nature Reserve: they have apparently been responsible for the deaths of cattle in recent years. Kanas is a long way from Urumqi, but its wild beauty is worth the trip.

Less fanciful but just as mysterious are several mummified bodies displayed in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Museum. The 4,000 year old mummified remains exhibit distinctly Caucasian facial characteristics, and are buried in brightly patterned clothes unlike any others found in northwest China. Their presence in the region remains a puzzle despite extensive research.

The city boasts many other museums and art galleries where visitors may discover displays ranging from panoramas of the Silk Route and ancient sculpture (Xinjiang Silk Road Museum) to international contemporary art (Urumqi Art Gallery) and fossils from around northwest China (Xinjiang Geological and Mineral Museum).

The distinct mix of ethnic groups in Urumqi has resulted in a strong civic identity. The architecture, food, festivals and culture in this city are a melting pot of all 49 groups residing here, which include Uygur, Han, Hui, Kazak, Mongol, Kirgiz and Xibo.

The natural resources of Urumqi are plentiful. The area is known as a "coal ship on the oil sea" due to its extensive reserves in the oil fields of the eastern Zhunggar Basin, Kelamayi and Tu Ha. The city' s strategic industries and attractive investment policies have propelled it into the top third of the ranks of investment-friendly Chinese cities. Another of the city' s vital natural resources is water: Tianshan (Heavenly) Mountain is topped by a glacier 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) long and around 500 meters wide. It is part of a snow field nicknamed the ''Source of Life'' as it blankets a tremendous 164 square kilometers (63 square miles) of mountain and is the source of the Urumqi River.

Long hours of sunshine in the summer and careful irrigation have made Xinjiang famous for the quality of its fruits, which are one of the many local products which make shopping here such a delight. Hundreds of varieties of fruit grow here including cantaloupe, watermelon, apricot, pomegranate, cherry, fig and walnut, all of which are available from local agricultural markets. The most famous agricultural market in Urumqi is the Bei Yuan Chun Market (No.7 Kelamayi Xi Lu) where you can mix with locals and sample a huge variety of produce.

More substantial food is not lacking in Xinjiang, and the city of Urumqi is no exception. Many of the local cuisine dishes here have Central Asian seasonings rather than more obviously Chinese flavors and much of the food is halal, due to the large Muslim population. Spicy food is very popular and the staple carbohydrate of choice is noodles, not rice as found in most other Chinese cities: dishes such as la mian and ban mian (noodles with mutton and spicy vegetable stew) are found all over the region. Skewered meat kebabs roasted over charcoal are a simple & cheap street-food that can be found on the corner of any busy street, as are stuffed buns and rice filled sausages. Naturally there are western restaurants but you may find yourself giving them a wide berth in order to sample the local cuisine.

Those after more lasting mementos of their time in Urumqi should have a look in the Erdaqiao Bazaar where colorful Atlas silk fabric and Xinjiang carpets can be picked up at reasonable prices. Ethnic costumes and decorations are also available. You may also be surprised to see Russian and Mongolian goods for sale here - a lasting effect of Urumqi' s place on the Silk Road.

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