Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China, is just like a piece of emerald embedded at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains. As home to 49 minority ethnic groups, this graceful prairie city is an important stop along the ancient Silk Road, leading to Central Asia and even as far as Europe. The city lies in the shadow of the lofty ice-capped Bogda Peak with vast Salt Lake to the east, rolling pine-covered Southern Hill to the south, and alternating fields and sand dunes of Zunggar Basin to the northwest. With shorter spring and autumn but longer winter and summer, May to October is the golden season for travel, when flowers are in full bloom and the fruits, like melons and grape, are ripe with fragrance. The 2 hours' time difference between Xinjiang and Beijing lead to local working time starting from 9:30 or 10:00. The temperature varies widely between day and night. Considering this, you're advised to set out on your travels around noon each day.