Urumchi

Ürümqi

 or Urumchi or Wu-lu-mu-ch'i

City (pop., 2003 est.: 1,401,990), capital of Xinjiang autonomous region, northwestern China. Situated along the northern face of the Tien Shan, it first came under Chinese control in the 7th–8th century and became an important centre for caravans en route to Turkistan. The Uighurs had control from c. 750 until the resumption of Chinese rule in the 18th century. The city was held by Muslim rebels in 1864–76. When the province of Xinjiang was established in 1884, Ürümqi became its capital. It grew rapidly into the province's most important city and the centre of trade in Central Asia. It is located in a coal-mining and petroleum-producing area; its chief manufactures include iron and steel, agricultural machinery, and chemicals.

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Urumchi, Urumqi, Wu-lu-mu-ch'i

a city in NW China, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region: trading centre on a N route between China and central Asia. Pop.: 1 562 000 (2005 est.)