Urumqi Administrative Divisions

Urumqi (乌鲁木齐), the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, lies on the northern slopes of the central Tianshan Mountains and along the southern edge of the Junggar Basin. Its administrative geography is closely connected with the distribution of tourism resources: the central districts concentrate museums, historic neighborhoods, bazaars and urban culture; the northern and western districts focus on transportation, modern industry and urban leisure; while Dabancheng District and Urumqi County contain the city's most extensive mountain, grassland, wetland and outdoor landscapes.

Urumqi currently administers seven municipal districts and one county: Tianshan District, Saybag District, Xinshi District, Shuimogou District, Toutunhe District, Dabancheng District, Midong District and Urumqi County. Xinshi District is administered together with Urumqi High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, while Toutunhe District operates together with Urumqi Economic and Technological Development Zone. Ganquanbao Economic and Technological Development Zone and the Urumqi Comprehensive Bonded Zone are important development zones, but they are not additional county-level administrative divisions.

A major administrative adjustment took effect in 2025, when Yongfeng Town (永丰镇) was transferred in its entirety from Urumqi County to Saybag District. Following the adjustment, Saybag District administers 15 subdistricts and one town, while Urumqi County administers two towns and three townships. This change is particularly relevant for tourism because the Geographical Center of the Asian Continent is located in Yongfeng Town and should now be classified under Saybag District.

Administrative Geography and Tourism Resources

Tianshan District – Historic Urumqi and Ethnic Cultural Experiences

Tianshan District (天山区) is one of the oldest and most culturally important parts of Urumqi. It contains traditional commercial neighborhoods, historic streets, cultural institutions and some of the city's strongest expressions of Xinjiang's multi-ethnic urban culture. The district currently administers 21 subdistricts, reflecting the dense population and highly urbanized character of central Urumqi.

The district's best-known tourism landmark is the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, officially listed as a national 4A tourist attraction. Other important cultural sites include Erdaoqiao, the Urumqi Confucian Temple, the Memorial Hall of the Eighth Route Army Office in Xinjiang, Xinjiang People's Theatre, Tianshan Park and the Yan'erwo area. Together, these places make Tianshan District the best part of Urumqi for travelers interested in local markets, food culture, Silk Road history, traditional neighborhoods and urban ethnic culture.

Saybag District – Museums, Parks and the Geographic Center of Asia

Saybag District (沙依巴克区) is another major central district and one of the best areas for understanding Xinjiang's history and modern urban life. Its tourism resources combine museums, parks, commercial districts and cultural institutions with the newly incorporated rural landscapes of Yongfeng Town.

The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum is one of Urumqi's most important cultural attractions and is officially rated 4A. Urumqi People's Park is another established urban leisure destination. Following the 2025 transfer of Yongfeng Town, the Geographical Center of the Asian Continent, a national 3A attraction, is now administratively part of Saybag District.

This gives Saybag an unusually broad tourism profile: visitors can explore Silk Road archaeology and ancient Xinjiang history in the museum, experience traditional urban neighborhoods and commercial streets in the city center, and then continue toward the rural outskirts to visit the symbolic geographic center of the Asian continent.

High-Tech Zone / Xinshi District – Airport Gateway, Science and Modern Urban Tourism

Xinshi District (新市区) is jointly administered with Urumqi High-Tech Industrial Development Zone and functions as one of the city's main modern business, science, education and transportation areas. The district has 22 township-level administrative units, consisting of 17 subdistricts, one town and four townships. Official district documents continue to refer to 22 town- and subdistrict-level units.

Urumqi's airport gateway lies in this part of the city, making Xinshi District an important first stop for many travelers. Tourism and study-tour resources include Liyushan Park, the Natural History Museum of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, urban parks, science and technology institutions, agricultural areas around Anningqu, and modern commercial districts. The city's current A-rated attraction directory lists both Liyushan Park and the natural history museum in the district.

Shuimogou District – Urban Mountains, Springs and Cultural Landmarks

Shuimogou District (水磨沟区) represents Urumqi's strongest combination of urban ecology, mountain scenery, cultural facilities and modern civic spaces. It currently administers 15 subdistricts, including older urban neighborhoods as well as newer development areas around Hetanquan and the convention and exhibition district.

The area's major attractions include Hongshan Park, one of Urumqi's most recognizable city landmarks, and Shuimogou Scenic Area, where springs, wooded hills and historic sites create an attractive urban landscape. The modern Urumqi Cultural Center, officially listed as a national 3A tourist attraction, and the Tianshan Mingyue City cultural tourism area add a contemporary dimension to the district.

For first-time visitors, Shuimogou is especially suitable for combining city panoramas, parks, cultural venues, architecture and relaxed urban walks.

Economic Development Zone / Toutunhe District – High-Speed Rail, Industry and Modern Leisure

Toutunhe District (头屯河区) is jointly administered with the Urumqi Economic and Technological Development Zone. It is one of the city's most important modern transportation, logistics and industrial centers and includes the Urumqi high-speed railway station area, the International Land Port and extensive new urban districts.

The district currently has 11 subdistricts. Recent administrative restructuring included the abolition of Wuchang Road Subdistrict, establishment or standardization of newer units such as High-Speed Railway, Bainiaohu and Xihu subdistricts, and the integration of the former Lianghe management area into Xihu Subdistrict.

Tourism here has a more modern character than in Tianshan or Saybag. Representative attractions include the Bayi Iron and Steel Industrial Culture Tourism Area, Belt and Road geographic-indication cultural displays, large entertainment facilities, modern commercial centers and the high-speed railway urban district. The area is especially relevant to travelers interested in industrial tourism, family entertainment, transportation infrastructure and contemporary Urumqi.

Dabancheng District – Wind Valley, Salt Lake and Desert-Mountain Landscapes

Dabancheng District (达坂城区) occupies a vast southeastern section of Urumqi and offers one of the strongest contrasts with the dense city center. The district stretches across mountain passes, open basins, wetlands and wind corridors and is famous for the landscapes associated with the folk song The Girl from Dabancheng.

Current official documents show that Dabancheng has four subdistricts, one town and three townships, for a total of eight township-level administrative units. Chaiwopu continues to operate as a formal subdistrict, as confirmed by its 2026 government budget documentation.

Major attractions include the Xinjiang Tianshan Wild Animal Park, a national 4A attraction, and the Salt Lake Scenic Area, currently listed as 3A. Dabancheng is also known for the Chaiwopu Lake wetland landscape, vast wind-power fields, mountain passes and the cultural landscape around Dabancheng Ancient Town. The district government is continuing to develop Salt Lake and Chaiwopu as important study-tour and ecological tourism areas.

Midong District – Buddhist Culture, Rural Landscapes and Northern Urumqi

Midong District (米东区) lies northeast of central Urumqi and extends from densely developed urban areas toward agricultural plains, villages, foothills and more open landscapes. The district currently administers eight subdistricts, five towns and two townships, including Bayanghe Kazakh Ethnic Township.

The best-known attraction is Hongguangshan Scenic Area, a national 4A destination combining cultural architecture, Buddhist elements, gardens and recreational spaces. Other tourism resources include Xiamenzi Ecological Rural Tourism Area, Shenquanshan Ecological Cultural Tourism Scenic Area, agricultural villages and seasonal countryside experiences around Tiegonggou, Sandao Dam and other rural areas.

Urumqi County – Tianshan Mountains, Grasslands and Ski Resorts

Urumqi County (乌鲁木齐县) occupies the mountainous southern hinterland of the municipality and contains many of Urumqi's most impressive natural landscapes. After Yongfeng Town was transferred to Saybag District in 2025, the county now administers two towns and three townships.

The county's flagship destination is Urumqi Tianshan Grand Canyon, currently Urumqi's national 5A tourist attraction. The county also contains Silk Road Mountain Resort and Muxutai Ecological Park, both rated 4A, together with Dongbaiyanggou, mountain forests, alpine grasslands, Kazakh pastoral settlements and numerous recreational areas around Shuixigou and Banfanggou.

Shuixigou Town and Banfanggou Town form the main accommodation and resort belt of the Nanshan Mountains, where travelers can find ski resorts, mountain hotels, guesthouses, grassland experiences, hiking routes and summer retreats. For outdoor travelers, this is the most important administrative area of Urumqi.

Complete Administrative Division Table of Urumqi

The following table lists the current township-level administrative divisions across all seven districts and Urumqi County. Development zones such as Ganquanbao are not listed separately because they are functional or economic management zones rather than additional county-level divisions. Based on current district-government information, Urumqi's eight county-level divisions contain approximately 113 formal township-level administrative units.