Kumul offers a variety of ways to explore cultural history and city life: a state first-class museum, historical exhibitions in old granaries, protected trees along the riverbank, and a cultural park on a former industrial site. Each place has a different focus. If you are looking for accommodation in Kumul, you can first consider whether museums and historical topics or the diverse offerings of a cultural park are of particular interest for your trip.
Museum and the History of Zuo Zongtang
The Hami Museum is a state first-class museum. It belongs to the Hami City Wenbo Institute, a facility rated as a 4A attraction at the intersection of Huancheng Road and Bayi South Road. The two ratings apply at different levels: the first is for the museum, and the 4A classification is for the institute.
The Left Gong Cultural Court focuses on the history of Zuo Zongtang. Visitors can use AR navigation and VR tours to explore the history and culture presented there. These digital offerings complement the historical interpretation with interactive formats. This means that visitors can choose between a museum visit, a historical presentation, and its digital interpretation as distinct cultural experiences.
Old Granaries and Protected Willows
At the Hami Old City Granaries and Walls Culture Park, three old granaries have been converted into exhibition venues. These include the historical exhibition “Impressions of the Old City,” a hall presenting one district and two counties as tourist destinations, and the special exhibition “Millennial Courier Route—Hami Ancient Post Station.” Digital interactive experiences are also part of the interpretation. The old granaries thus give the cultural park a clear connection to the city’s history, while the exhibitions explore a range of topics and presentation formats.
Another kind of cultural heritage can be found on the banks of the Hami River: 218 protected “Left Gong Willows” stand east of the Left Gong Cultural Court. The trees have been marked with protection plaques since 1995. Their exact number, local name, and plaques make this collection a distinct point of interest alongside the exhibitions. The Hami Zuo Zongtang Phoenix Terrace Historical Culture Park is also home to a 27-meter-high Tower of Heavenly and Earthly Righteousness. It serves as a specific architectural landmark in another cultural park.
A Cultural Park on a Former Industrial Site
The Hami Cultural and Creative Park is an urban culture and tourism park on a former industrial site. Its offerings include a Stone Culture City, a Melon Food City, and a railway-themed park, as well as factory relics and creative cultural offerings. It also features exhibitions on intangible cultural heritage, climbing and team-building activities, children's entertainment, and sports and fitness facilities. This mix sets the park apart from places that focus more specifically on a museum, historical exhibition, or individual cultural heritage topics.
The former soda factory railway within the park has been converted into the old “Hami Station.” A report dated September 15, 2025, describes the station as an attraction for tour groups who stop there to take photos. The former railway operations and its current use as a photo spot offer another perspective on the park’s industrial history.
Getting There and Planning Accommodation
Hami Yizhou Airport has the designations HMI (IATA) and ZWHM (ICAO). It is located 12 kilometers west of Hami city center. Road connections include the G312, Yingbin Avenue, and Jianshe Road; there is also a bus service between the airport and the city center. Before traveling, check whether the bus is running on your travel dates, as its service and journey time should be confirmed with current information.
This selection can help you organize destinations by theme before planning your daily itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Kashgar, Bayingol, Changji, Ili, Tacheng, Bortala, Aksu, Altay
For the broader travel overview: Xinjiang.
