Urumchi where I stay is on the famous Silk Road. They have here a great museum (free entry) where you can study the history of the region, excavations and the culture of the nationalities living in the west of China: Ujgurs. Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Tajiks… The museum is definitely worth a visit.
Urumchi today is a modern town with more then 2 million inhabitants, it is hard to move around – fortunately city bus ride costs just 1 yuan (they pay 6,22 yuan per USD) so you can use them assuming that you know the bus number… It is not easy for the foreigner to comunicate with locals, phrasebook is worth to bring… I stay in the centrally located youth hostel Maitian – just near Parkson Shopping center. They charge 55 yuans per bed in 4-bed room.
Tomorrow I will try to cross Takla Makan Desert…
