Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
The last stop on your westward journey along the Silk Road is Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, situated at the northern foothill of the snow-capped Tianshan Mountains.
Urumqi, meaning "fine pasture" in Mongolian, was first inhabited by a mixture of ethnic groups about 3,000 years ago. Since the northern route of the Silk Road passed through the city, it was a heavilyguarded fort in the Han Dynasty, and remained so for many centuries. Today, the city itself has few historical sites to offer tourists, except for the museum of the autonomous region that houses some valuable relics unearthed along the Silk Road. An excursion to Tianchi, however, is worthwhile.
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Tianchi, or ˇ°Lake of Heaven,ˇ± is about 30 miles southeast of Urumqi, at an elevation of 6,435 feet above sea level. It is a beautiful highland lake, flanked by rugged pines and cypresses, and with clear waters that reflect the surrounding mountains. In winter, it provides an ideal alpine skating rink. In fact, China's winter skating games have been held there. |
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