3．Urumqi, Center of Asia

Urumqi(乌鲁木齐), the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region(新疆维吾尔自治区), is the center of politics, economy and culture in Xinjiang. The Asian continent's center is in Baojiacaozi Village, Yongfeng Township(永丰乡包家槽子村)about 30 km southwest of Urumqi.

On the top of Hongshan(红山)from a height of 910m, you can have an overall view of the city with rapid development and modernization. In the 1960s it took 15 days to travel from Kashgar (喀什噶尔，又名喀什)to Urumqi; today you can cover the 1,088 km trip in 90 minutes by air. Thanks to its modern transport network, you can easily arrive in the heart of neighboring countries by air or by land.

All ethnic minorities enjoy equal rights in Urumqi, as anywhere else in Xinjiang, including a high level of education. The main religions, Islam in first place, exist together peacefully.

Urumqi International Grand Bazaar(乌鲁木齐国际大巴扎), the largest international trade market in the world, may be not as famous as the Kashgar Bazaar. There, you can find traditional hats of different ethnic groups in Xinjiang, furs, various scarves nuts and dry fruit, leather boots and belts, pocket musical instruments，medicines, the famous figure of Afanti(阿凡提), and so on.