Urumqi

Urumqi, formerly known as Dihua, is a prefecture-level city, the capital, and a major city of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is a second-tier city in China and an important central city in Northwest China, as well as an international trade center facing Central and Western Asia, as determined by the State Council. Urumqi is located in the northwest of China, in the center of Xinjiang, at the heart of the Eurasian continent, on the northern slope of the middle section of the Tianshan Mountains, and on the southern edge of the Junggar Basin. It has a mid-temperate continental arid climate and is adjacent to Central Asian countries. It is the political, economic, cultural, scientific, educational, and transportation center of Xinjiang, and the largest city in the world farthest from the ocean, known as the 'Heart of Asia.' It is the most inland large city in the world, farthest from the ocean and coastline. In 1763, during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, the city was expanded and renamed Dihua. In 1884, Dihua became the capital of Xinjiang Province, thus becoming the political center of the entire region. In 1954, Dihua was renamed Urumqi, which means 'beautiful pasture' in Mongolian. Tourist attractions with rich Xinjiang folk customs, such as the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, Xinjiang Folk Street, and Erdaoqiao Folk Custom Street, are renowned both domestically and internationally. In the early 1930s, the Xinjiang Provincial Bank was located at the western end of today's Mingde Road. In 1939, the Xinjiang Provincial Bank was reorganized into the Xinjiang Commercial Bank, with Mao Zemin serving as the first chairman. Between 1943 and 1945, the bank gained a great reputation. In April 2003, the bank was designated as a key cultural relic protection unit in Urumqi. The Urumqi Confucian Temple is located at No. 231 Qianjin Road, Tianshan District, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It was built in 1765 and is a group of temple buildings in the Qing Dynasty style, with brick and wood structures typical of Qing Dynasty architecture. On October 7, 2019, the Urumqi Confucian Temple was announced by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as part of the eighth batch of national key cultural relic protection units. ⏳Playtime: Free admission, playtime 1-2 days.