SINGAPORE – For its End-Of-Summer Giveaway, ASA Holidays has a pair of return flight tickets to Urumqi – worth $2,500 each – for three lucky winners, while 200 others stand to win a $100 eCapitaVoucher each.
Not many will know that the city of Urumqi is the capital of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in north-western China, with a population of roughly four million.
Perhaps even fewer will know that, from June to August, Urumqi’s temperatures hover around 30 deg C in the day and fall to a cool 18 deg C at night, making it a destination worth considering during the peak summer travel season.
While there are no direct flights from Singapore to Urumqi, alternatives include transiting in other Chinese cities, such as Guangzhou and Beijing, or flying there via Kuala Lumpur. The average flight time from Singapore to Urumqi, with a stopover, comes up to about 12 hours.
The city of Urumqi sits on the ancient Silk Road trading route, which historically spanned Xinjiang to Pakistan, India and beyond.
It retains some of its past in marketplaces like Erdaqiao Market and Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, where travellers can find traditional handicraft and local food specialities, such as kebabs and boiled lamb.
Within the city, other attractions include Xinjiang Regional Museum, which has exhibitions featuring bronzeware relics and mummified bodies from its rich history, and Red Hill Park, a recreational hang-out with a panoramic view of Urumqi. Entry to both are free.
But outside the city, desert and verdant pastures sprawl for kilometres. Heavenly Lake, a natural alpine lake, is around an hour’s drive from the city and has stunning views of snow-capped mountains and turquoise waters.
Travellers on a week-long trip beginning in Urumqi can visit the surrounding cities of Turpan, Kashgar and Kanas – each with its own unique offerings from natural sights to cultural sites. A day trip to Turpan, about a two-hour train ride away, is possible, while Kashgar and Kanas can take more than 15 hours by train to reach.
Tours are also available at travel agencies. ASA Holidays, for example, has a 12-day tour package exploring Urumqi and the cities in its vicinity, starting at $3,988. It includes airfare, accommodation, meals, a tour guide, ground transport and activities.
- For a chance to win a pair of return air tickets to Urumqi or $100 worth of eCapitaVouchers, answer one question correctly – the clue can be found in this article – by Aug 28 at stsub.sph.com.sg/endofsummergiveaway