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Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has become a transportation center not only inside Xinjiang but also serves as an important connection with other provinces within China as well as a hub between China and other Asian countries.
Getting Around
Public buses are everywhere in Urumqi, however, they are not frequently used by tourists or foreigners due to the fact that all schedules are in Chinese. If you are a Chinese language speaker or willing to risk getting your schedule a little mixed up to save a few kuai keep in mind that pickpocketers are frequent on buses. Urumqi has a fairly well developed highway system which makes automobile travel fast and easy. Renting a car or taking taxis is usually the fastest and most efficient way to get around the city.
Taxis
The base rate for taxis in Urumqi is 6 RMB for the first 3 km and 1.6 RMB for each additional km during the daytime, 1.8 RMB at night.
To and from Urumqi
International travelers can fly directly to Urumqi International Airport or by connecting flights. The Railway Station also connects Urumqi to many other major domestic cities within China.
Air
Located in the suburbs about 16 kilometers away from the city center, Urumqi International Airport is one of the five busiest airports in China and meets the 4E Standards Airport of the International Civil Aviation. You can take a taxi there from the city center for around 30 RMB. There are 113 different destinations you can travel to from this airport, 99 of them domestic and 14 of them international.
Train
Located at the foot of Yamalike Mountain the railway station is in the Shayibake District just southwest of downtown Urumqi. It costs about 10 RMB to take a taxi into the downtown. Trains operate to all major cities within China as well as some smaller cities and towns within the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. There is also one international train traveling between Almaty (capital of Kazakhstan) and Urumqi. Due to Urumqi's remote location travelers are strongly recommended to book a sleeper train ticket as many train trips can exceed 40 hours.
Bus
The highway system of Xinjiang is a relatively developed network. Long-distance buses are available daily in Urumqi to nearly all other cities within Xinjiang. Tour buses to neighboring scenic spots such as Tianchi (Heavenly Lake, 120 km) and Nanshan (Southern Pastures, 75 km), run daily and are convenient and relatively inexpensive. The main national highways of Urumqi include Wuyi Highway (National highway No. 312 connecting Urumqi and Yining 696 km), Wuka Haighway (National highway No. 314 connecting Urumqi and Kashgar 1474 km), and the western part of Lanxin Highway (National highway No. 312 connecting Urumqi and Hami 596 km). There are several bus stations in Urumqi, each associated with a different destination city. The main ones are:
Northern Suburb Passenger Transport Station
Address: 8, Dongba Jiahu Lu
Route: for places including Fukang, Qitai, Jimusaer.
Southern Suburb Passenger Transport Station
Address: 1, Yan'erwo Lu, Santunbei
Route: for destinations including Hotan, Kashgar, A Ke Su, Yecheng, Turpan, Korla etc.
Nianzigou Passenger Transport Station
Address: Heilongjiang Lu
Route: mainly to places in southern and northern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region including Yining, Aletai, Buerjin, Hami, Korla etc.
Airport Inquiring: 0991 380 1453/380 2695
Railway Inquiring: 0991 581 3771
Bus Inquiring: 0991 488 6355
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