Hongshan Park, Urumqi

One Day Tour of Urumqi - Asian Center - Hongshan Park - Hantenggeli Mosque - People's Theater 
 
Urumqi has been the transport hub on north branch of Silk Road since the ancient times. It is the world's farthest city away from any ocean and is also the center of the Asian Continent. Today we will guide you to visit the Asian Center in the surrounding village and some interesting places in the city area.

In the morning, drive to the Asian Center in the Baojia Caozi Village in Yongfeng County, about 30 kilometers away. We suggest you charter a private car for the visit. Exercise care in driving since some section of the road there is under construction at present. Here is the information of two local Vehicle Rental Companies: Da Mo Feng Vehicle Rental Company (Address: Suite 822, Ze Pu Business Hotel, Urumqi, Xinjiang; Telephone: 86-991-8789396) and the Ou Lan De Vehicle Rental Company (Address: No. 18, Cangfanggou Road, Urumqi, Xinjiang; Telephone: 86-991-5890226). If you charter a taxi, it will cost about 200-250RMB.

Geographical surveys done in 1992, confirmed that the geographical center of Asian Continent was near Urumqi; a cenotaph was erected to mark this location. It is known locally as the "Asian Center" and consequently Urumqi is called "Capital of Asian Center". We suggest you drive back to the downtown to have lunch.

Hantenggeli Mosque, Urumqi

After lunch, continue the tour to Hongshan Park (Address: No. 2, Hongshan Road, Shayibake District, Urumqi, Xinjiang; Entrance fee: free of charge). As the symbol of Urumqi City, the Hongshan Park is built around the nine-storey Zhen Long Pagoda on the top of the 1391-meter-high mountain called Hongshan. Built in the Yuan Dynasty (122-1367 A.D), the 25-meter Pagoda is well preserved. The top of the hill is the ideal place to view the whole city or take wonderful pictures. Besides the pagoda, there is a lake at the foot of the mountain, and at the half way there are some amusement facilities and a temple. In summer, you may see many local people walking, chatting, and enjoying the cool, playing cards, fishing and boating in the park. If you want to visit the first bridge above the Urumqi River, just go out of the park from the south gate. The Xida (Grand West) Bridge was first built in 1763 by the Qing Government and finally reconstructed by Urumqi Government in 2006. It is so named because it is located in the west area of the city. Take a taxi to the Hantenggeli Mosque. It is located at the southwest corner of the South Gate so that it is also called the "Great South Gate Mosque". Its construction began in 1882 and was reconstructed in 1902. Different from other mosques, the Hantenggeli Mosque has four floors; two  floors below ground level and two flours above the ground. You will be surprised to find that the underground flours floors have bustling stores offering goods and commodities with folk customs. While going to the upper floors, you will be amazed by the devout disciples of Muslimism in the sober mosque. If interested, you may walk to the nearby People's Theater with a mixture construction style of Central Asian Muslim. You may find it entertaining to see a movie in such a beautiful cinema in a stranger county. The full day tour is finished. Have a good rest this night.