The name "Ürümqi" comes from the Mongolic Oirat language and means "beautiful pasture" (Oirat: Үрмч, romanized: Ürmç, [yrəmˈt͡ʃə]). It was originally the name of a small town founded by the Oirat-speaking … See more

Although Ürümqi is situated near the northern route of the Silk Road, the present city is relatively new. The earliest known settlement in the area can be dated to the 7th century CE, but there was no permanent … See more

The largest city in western China, Ürümqi has earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the most remote city from any sea in the world. It is about 2,500 kilometres (1,600 mi) from the nearest coastline a… See more

Blacksmith Institute mentioned Ürümqi in 2007 World's Worst Polluted Places caused by air pollution along with Linfen and Lanzhou, all in China. In 2008, Toronto Star listed Ürümqi as one of the Top Ten worst places to li… See more