Getting out
Urumqi and Xinjiang is a fantastic location if you like to travel, learn about different cultures and outside activities as skiing, horse riding, mountain biking climbing etc.
• Tianshan Tianchi National Park (天池) - scenic with prismatic splendour. Tickets are approximately ¥140. Buses leave from the north end of People's Park every morning at 9:00. It will give you a wonderful experience of Chinese tourism with your time micro-managed by the tour guides. The bus costs ¥130 with another ¥140 for entrance to the park. This gives you lunch of a sort and a visit to a yurt village as well as to Heavenly Lake.
• Nan Shan (南山) - Picturesque mountains south of Urumqi. In summer the valleys are populated with Kazakh Yurts, which accept travellers for ¥50-100 per night including food. Excellent for hiking and horseback riding. Cheap buses (¥8-25) leave for the area throughout the day from the bus station south of People's Park (Renmin Gongyuan). Particularly recommended is Juhua Tai (菊花台, chysanthemum terrace), with plenty of food and sleeping options along with mountain pastures filled with alpine flowers.
• Number One Glacier (一号冰川) - Located in the far south of Nan Shan is this fast disappearing glacier, the first in China to be thoroughly researched. The area is in the higher peaks in the Nan Shan range (over 4200 m/14,000 ft)and boasts spectacular views along with few tourists. The glacier can be reached after first taking the Nan Shan bus to Hou Xia (后峡, ¥12.6), and then finding a driver in the town to take you to the glacier(¥150-200 one way, about an hour). Several kilometres from the glacier are Kazakh families that rent their yurts to tourists for ¥20. Polo (fried rice), bread, kebabs and tea are also available for about ¥15 or so. Coming back, you should be able to hitch a ride for free with lorries returning to town from a nearby mine.
• Heart of Asia Monument - South of Urumqi is a monument supposedly marking the centre of the Eurasian landmass, underscoring just how far from the ocean you really are.
Skiing
There are various ski resort in and around Urumqi, with the silk road ski resort as one of the more famous ones. Incomparable with the ski resorts in the west. It's still great for some weekends out as it offers you great nature, fresh air and good fun and exercise. all resorts have good rental equipment available.
Urumqi and Xinjiang is a fantastic location if you like to travel, learn about different cultures and outside activities as skiing, horse riding, mountain biking climbing etc.
• Tianshan Tianchi National Park (天池) - scenic with prismatic splendour. Tickets are approximately ¥140. Buses leave from the north end of People's Park every morning at 9:00. It will give you a wonderful experience of Chinese tourism with your time micro-managed by the tour guides. The bus costs ¥130 with another ¥140 for entrance to the park. This gives you lunch of a sort and a visit to a yurt village as well as to Heavenly Lake.
• Nan Shan (南山) - Picturesque mountains south of Urumqi. In summer the valleys are populated with Kazakh Yurts, which accept travellers for ¥50-100 per night including food. Excellent for hiking and horseback riding. Cheap buses (¥8-25) leave for the area throughout the day from the bus station south of People's Park (Renmin Gongyuan). Particularly recommended is Juhua Tai (菊花台, chysanthemum terrace), with plenty of food and sleeping options along with mountain pastures filled with alpine flowers.
• Number One Glacier (一号冰川) - Located in the far south of Nan Shan is this fast disappearing glacier, the first in China to be thoroughly researched. The area is in the higher peaks in the Nan Shan range (over 4200 m/14,000 ft)and boasts spectacular views along with few tourists. The glacier can be reached after first taking the Nan Shan bus to Hou Xia (后峡, ¥12.6), and then finding a driver in the town to take you to the glacier(¥150-200 one way, about an hour). Several kilometres from the glacier are Kazakh families that rent their yurts to tourists for ¥20. Polo (fried rice), bread, kebabs and tea are also available for about ¥15 or so. Coming back, you should be able to hitch a ride for free with lorries returning to town from a nearby mine.
• Heart of Asia Monument - South of Urumqi is a monument supposedly marking the centre of the Eurasian landmass, underscoring just how far from the ocean you really are.
Skiing
There are various ski resort in and around Urumqi, with the silk road ski resort as one of the more famous ones. Incomparable with the ski resorts in the west. It's still great for some weekends out as it offers you great nature, fresh air and good fun and exercise. all resorts have good rental equipment available.