Ürümqi offers different perspectives: viewpoints in Hongshan Park, historical finds at the Regional Museum, and products and food at the Grand Bazaar. Shuimogou Park focuses on landscape, culture, and recreation. When planning your trip, you can decide which interests take priority—views, museums, bazaars, or parks. The attractions range from a historic structure to a dinner-time stage show.
Views and History at Hongshan Park
Hongshan Park is located in Shuimogou District, at No. 40 Beiyi Alley, Hongshan Road. The 2025 municipal list classifies it as a 4A tourist scenic area. Visitors can climb Hongshan Tower and the observation tower in the park and take in views across Ürümqi. Check locally before your visit to see whether the viewpoints are accessible.
Hongshan Tower is a historic structure dating from 1788. The park therefore combines views over the city with a building whose history reaches back to the 18th century. If you are interested in the New Year Temple Fair, it is held periodically in Hongshan Park. The ninth edition, reported on in 2026, included the summit viewing platform, the main paths, the area around Hongshan Tower, and the folk culture area. Check the event dates and program if the fair is important to your travel plans.
The Regional Museum and the Grand Bazaar
The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Museum is located at No. 581 Xibei Road in Sayibak District. The museum is also classified as a 4A tourist scenic area in the 2025 municipal list. A description published in 2025 of the exhibition “千年逝者——新疆古代干尸陈列” (“The Departed Across a Thousand Years—Exhibition of Ancient Mummies from Xinjiang”) mentions six mummy finds dating from the pre-Qin period to the Tang dynasty. They are accompanied by more than 100 items of clothing and other objects. The time span and textiles give the exhibition a tangible connection to Xinjiang’s history. Check before your trip to see whether the exhibition is currently on display.
The Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar is located at No. 510 Jiefang South Road in Tianshan District; the 2025 municipal list also classifies it as a 4A tourist scenic area. Its pedestrian street is about 700 meters long and brings together food, cultural and creative products, and items associated with intangible cultural heritage. This mix makes the bazaar a different kind of discovery from a park or museum visit: the focus here is on goods and food. Individual vendors may change.
On the pedestrian street, Afanti Hetian Barbecue Paradise combines regional food with cultural presentations and live performances. Guests can watch a stage show while dining. If this offering is a factor in your visit, check the current program in advance; performances and availability may change.
Landscape and Other Park Themes
Shuimogou Park is located at No. 472 Shuimogou Road in Shuimogou District and is classified as a 4A tourist scenic area in the 2025 municipal list. Its listed landscape features include Qingquan Mountain, Wenquan Mountain, W塔 Mountain, and the Shuimo River. The park’s official remit encompasses nature, history and culture, sports and recreation, religious customs, and ecological education. Its thematic scope therefore extends beyond individual viewpoints. When choosing what to do, you can consider whether you are especially interested in the landscape, cultural history, or the designated recreation and educational themes.
Another destination, the Water Park at No. 4 Yan’erwo Road in Tianshan District, is classified as a 2A tourist scenic area in the 2025 municipal list. This classification distinguishes it from the 4A destinations mentioned above; it is a rating, not a statement about your personal interests. Taken together, the information about parks, the museum, and the bazaar offers several different starting points for choosing what to do in Ürümqi.
Discover more destinations: Hotan, Aksu, Bortala, Kashgar, Hami, Bayingol, Changji, Ili.
For the main travel overview: Xinjiang.
