Ürümqi Diwopu (Tianshan) International Airport

Ürümqi Diwopu (Tianshan) International Airport serves as the main gateway to Xinjiang and one of the largest airports in western China. The airport sits near the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains, 16 km northwest of Urumqi, a fitting introduction to Xinjiang’s striking geography. Opened in 1939 and expanded multiple times since, it now handles millions of passengers each year, reflecting Ürümqi’s role as a crossroads between East and West. Our arrival there was a bit rushed, since we had a bus to catch. As a result, we did not explore Urumqi.