Urumqi People's Park is a glittering gem nestled at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains. Spanning 216 hectares of lush green oasis, the park features a shimmering lake whose emerald waters glisten like jade. Artificial hills draped in verdant foliage harmonize beautifully with winding, secluded pathways. The most captivating feature is the island at the heart of the lake, which transforms with the seasons—willows trailing their branches along the shore in spring, and reeds swaying gently in autumn. From the observation pavilion on the island, visitors enjoy sweeping views of Urumqi’s cityscape, truly deserving its reputation as the city’s “green lung.”
The artificial hill complex, constructed from Taihu limestone, conceals an ancient well over a thousand years old among its undulating peaks. The well’s water remains sweet and refreshing, once serving as the primary drinking source for Qing dynasty frontier soldiers stationed here. Encircling the lake, a fitness trail connects the Tai Chi Plaza, basketball courts, and children’s playground, where the sounds of morning exercisers and children’s laughter blend into a vibrant portrait of everyday urban life.
Originally established in the 1950s, the park embodies the historical memory of Urumqi’s urban development. Its “Friendship Square” served as the starting point for the 1990 Asian Games torch relay, symbolizing the confluence of Eastern and Western civilizations. The renowned Qing general Zuo Zongtang once stationed troops here and implemented agricultural colonization, leaving behind the enduring legacy of “tuntian shibian” (military-agricultural settlement to strengthen frontier defense). Within the park, the “Silk Road Cultural Corridor” uses sculptures and inscriptions to recount the heroic exploits of Zhang Qian, the Han dynasty explorer who pioneered the Silk Road. Bilingual inscriptions in Uyghur and Chinese carved on stone tablets highlight the harmonious coexistence of diverse ethnic cultures. On summer evenings, the open-air stage by the lakeside becomes a sea of ethnic song and dance, where the melodies of the guzheng and dombra echo beneath the starlit sky, narrating the millennia-old splendor of this historic frontier city.
