Full of tall leafy trees and flowers throughout spring, summer and early fall, Urumqi's People's Park (人民公园 Rénmín Gōngyuán) is a pleasant place to while away a few hours strolling among gardens, pavilions, sculptures and cool streams. It's also child-friendly, with a small amusement park and a rollerskating rink on hand for young visitors.

A popular site for various exhibitions, including flower shows, bonsai exhibitions, painting and art fairs and photography shows, in the winter, the park hosts an ice sculpture festival and various winter sport competitions.

Once a mixture of marsh and forest, today's park occupies grounds originally established in 1755 as the site of quarters for occupying Qing Dynasty soldiers. The park itself was established in 1883, then enlarged in 1918 by dredging a small lake and expanding the grounds.

Several buildings done in a traditional central Chinese style dot People's Park, including the Danfeng Chaoyang Pavilion (丹凤朝阳阁 Dānfèngcháoyáng Gé), the Dragon King Temple (龙王庙 Lóng Wáng Miào), Zuixia Pavilion (醉霞亭 Zuìxiá Tíng), Xiaochun Pavilion (晓春亭 Xiǎochūn Tíng), Jian Lake Pavilion (阅微草堂 Xiǎochūn Tíng), a "thatched abode" maintained in memory of Qing Dynasty official Ji Xiaolan, who was instrumental in bringing the restive region now known in Mandarin as Xinjiang under Manchu control.

The park makes for an excellent getaway from the hot city in summer and is especially pleasant in the morning when locals come to exericise and chat.

Xinjiang guide | Urumqi guide | Urumqi attractions | Urumqi flights
Urumqi hotels | Urumqi on the China Travel Blog