Four kilometers south of Urumqi | A cultural and artistic Citywalk route I've personally tested three times (with 2 branch routes)

This was the third time I booked a hotel near the South Gate, not to rush to see the sights, but to explore the old city of Urumqi in a single route. I've walked this route three times, excluding the tourist-heavy Erdaoqiao main street, and dedicating time to the old bank, the corner of the community market, and the hidden corner behind Jianzhong Road with its black-lacquered vinyl records. The main route is about 4.2 kilometers long, taking about 1 hour and 40 minutes on foot. Including the two side streets and stops, I recommend setting aside an entire afternoon.

This route is suitable for those who enjoy taking photos along the way, as well as weekend travelers who don't want to rely on taxis to connect attractions. The best time to start is 2:30 pm, arriving at People's Square just in time for the evening light.

I. Route Framework: How to get from the South Gate Bank to People's Square, a main route of 4.2 kilometers?

The starting point is chosen at the entrance of the "Big Bank"—the former site of the Xinjiang Provincial Bank, completed in 1943, a rare old Slavic-style building in Urumqi. Walk south along Jiefang South Road for about 700 meters, a 10-minute walk to Shanxi Lane; from Shanxi Lane, turn north onto Heping South Road for about 1.1 kilometers, a 15-minute walk to Jianzhong Road; then walk east along Jianzhong Road for about 800 meters, a 12-minute walk to the People's Square endpoint. There are two branching points along the way: a 0.8-kilometer branch on Lingguan Lane and a 0.9-kilometer branch on Wenyi Road.

I don't recommend walking there in the early morning, as many bookstores and record stores don't open until the afternoon. There are no steep slopes along the entire route, making it suitable for a leisurely walk. If you're short on time, you can just do the main route and the Consulate Lane side route, leaving the Wenyi Road side route for another time.

Part 2: From the South Gate Bank to Shanxi Lane, observe the old buildings and the old city fabric (approximately 1.2 kilometers, 15 minutes walk).

The sidewalk opposite the large bank is the first good spot for taking photos. Crouch down a bit and include the streetlights and stone walls in the same frame to create a surreal "old financial district" feel. Why it's worth stopping for 5 minutes: the stone joints and wooden window details on the walls are still well preserved, and behind them is a glass curtain wall, offering a panoramic view of Urumqi's century-old history.

Continuing south, the sidewalks on Jiefang South Road become increasingly narrow, with old Uyghur houses appearing on both sides. Don't rush into Shanxi Alley; first, stand by a utility pole and use a telephoto lens to photograph the alley's depth. The blue wooden doors and brick-carved lintels make excellent foregrounds. Take five minutes to observe the changes in the lintel patterns under different lighting, and also to wait for a local resident to pass by on their bicycle.

3. Branch Line A: Turn into the corner of Consulate Lane and Heping South Road Vegetable Market Street (approximately 0.8 km, 12 minutes walk)

Turn right from the middle of Shanxi Alley into Consulate Alley. This alley is much quieter than the main street, and the baked bun shops and yogurt stalls still retain their old-fashioned methods. Position the camera diagonally opposite the tandoor oven, using the rising steam as a foreground to capture the authentic "rustic charm." Stop and watch for five minutes, observing the rhythm of the baker sticking and taking out the naan bread—it's more captivating than any performance.

Walking to the intersection of Consulate Lane and Heping South Road, you'll find a corner of a local market where only locals carry cloth bags. Squatting in front of the stalls, backlit to photograph the water droplets on tomatoes and green peppers, is one of the most photogenic moments along this route. Why watch for 5 minutes: There's no tourist filter here; the vendors will chat with you about the day's weather while weighing the produce.

Section 4, Second Section: Jianzhong Road used bookstores, coffee shops and pocket parks (approximately 1.1 km, 15-minute walk)

Turning north from Shanxi Lane onto Heping South Road, then right onto Jianzhong Road, you'll find a used bookstore without a sign on the ground floor of an old residential building. The steps in front offer a second high vantage point: through the half-open glass door, you can capture the warm hues of sunlight slanting across the old magazines. It's worth spending five minutes looking around because the owner has collected many local pictorials and maps from the 1970s and 80s; flipping through them feels like catching up on your pre-class reading about Urumqi.

The coffee window next to the used bookstore only serves hand-drip coffee, costing a few dozen yuan per person. Fifty meters ahead with your paper cup is the Jianzhong Road Pocket Park. In the morning, the park is filled with elderly people playing chess, and in the afternoon, young people daydream on the benches. Sitting on a stone bench and taking a backlit photo of the leaves with manual focus captures the rhythm of the entire walk.

Note that the used bookstore sometimes doesn't open until 4 pm. If it happens to be closed, go to the Pocket Park for a while and then come back. Don't wait there.

5. Branch Line B: The intersection of Wenyi Road and Minzhu Road (Vintage and Vinyl Section) (approximately 0.9 km, 15-minute walk)

If you still have the energy on Jianzhong Road, I recommend turning west onto Wenyi Road from the Renmin Road intersection. This short stretch is affectionately known as "Little Taipei" by local young people, and it's home to several vintage clothing stores and vinyl record corners. The storefronts aren't very large, and the windows are highly reflective, so you can use a polarizing filter or your phone's camera lens to take photos against the glass, merging old shirts, old posters, and yourself into the same frame.

Why it's worth stopping for 5 minutes: Urumqi's artsy streets aren't about glamorous photo opportunities; they're more like a sample of "self-expression by young people in border regions." The owner of the vinyl record corner plays old Uyghur songs; even if you don't buy anything, you can listen for a while before leaving. After the side street, return to Jianzhong Road and head towards People's Square—you won't get lost.

VI. Destination: People's Square and Practical Tips from the Blogger

When you reach People's Square, the main route, about 4.2 kilometers long, ends there. The steps in front of the monument are a good place to sit and look back at the photos. There are no "must-see attractions" on this route, but every section reminds you that Urumqi's culture and art are not in exhibition halls, but in the brick carvings at the alley entrances, the water droplets in the vegetable markets, and the crackling sound of vinyl records.

Practical Tips: 1. Wear shoes that can withstand dirt, as there may be water stains at the corners of the market; 2. Bring enough power banks, as the old alleys and secondhand bookstores drain the shutter quickly; 3. It is recommended to choose the Consulate Alley branch route and the Art Road branch route separately, and walk one route at a time for a more complete main route; 4. Respect your subjects, nod before taking pictures of residents and vendors; 5. Urumqi has a large temperature difference between day and night, so bring a light jacket if you go out in the afternoon in spring and autumn.