It's just so coincidental.

I am in Urumqi on this rare day when classes are canceled due to heavy snow.

After walking in the Caucasus and returning from Tbilisi to Guangzhou with a stopover in Urumqi for three days, I fell in love with this city and encountered such a snowy surprise while speaking about my experience during these three days.

Urumqi has been experiencing snowfall since last night. The city had already announced class cancellations, and we unexpectedly experienced a notified heavy snowfall on the day we were leaving the city.

I ran down to experience it like this.

Southern small potatoes are not equipped to go to a place further away where snow scenes are more suitable for photography, but just looking around the vicinity is already enough to be exciting.

By the way, this trip to Urumqi has brought me so many surprises. My previous impression of Urumqi was that the sun only sets at around 10 PM in summer, and when the logistics weren't as developed, buying dried fruits from Xinjiang was a must-do in U

As a renowned transit point between Xinjiang and countries like Central Asia, Middle East, and Caucasus, Urumqi has always been in a state of being traveled but not extensively explored.

In other words, there are many people traveling to Urumqi, but few who truly take a good trip there. Once, Li Dan said in a live broadcast that so many people visit this city, but few actually live here.

Fortunately, we stayed for three days this time. At first, I was just passing through as an intermediate stop and didn't have much to expect. However, I didn't expect that from the moment I got off the plane, this city brimming with the scent of crea

We landed at the airport at 7:30 in the morning, and it was still dark in Urumqi. The online car driver is a kind sister who immediately reminded me that I was dressed too lightly as soon as we met. Have you brought enough thick clothes? The temperat

Urumqi in the morning looks somewhat bleak as autumn comes to an end, yet the golden leaves still spread generously across the city.

As a city with the largest population of Han ethnicity in Xinjiang, many people say that this city, located around Tianchi and Turpan, has no distinct characteristics. The city is similar to others, and its people are the same. I used to agree, but t

The enthusiasm and mildness of Urumqi people are in contrast with their burly appearance.

My driver sister recommended some fun places nearby, such as Stone Man Valley and Nanshan Hill. She didn't know that I planned to spend three days at this 'transit station', but I still appreciate her kindness and enthusiasm.

As we got off the bus, she reminded us again to wear thick clothes. It touched us a little, but we didn't expect the deeper impact to start until later.

We didn't go to the famous Grand Bazaar, or the bustling Tian Er Street for tourism photos. Instead, we chilled out for a few days, leisurely and unhurried.

Instead of going to the second street of Hetian, we went to Lingguan alley. This alley is very short, less than 400 meters, but the atmosphere and local flavor are very precious. 

The name comes from the presence of the Soviet Consulate established in 1897, which bears testimony to the history of modern diplomacy in Urumqi.

It was rare not to check the popular online stores that day, and the weather was nice. We had a good time chatting and walking around.

After eating the chewy noodles, I had the fragrant hand-pulled rice, my favorite milk-skin yogurt, and drank the sour pomegranate juice. I told the passerby waiting nearby to try it, try it, and then laughed and walked away.

The aunt selling dried fruits on the roadside kept urging us to taste the paper-thin walnuts. They are quite cheap, fragrant, and delicious here.

Just need to buy 100 yuan worth of products, and we will help with express delivery back to Guangdong. We added red dates and raisin to the purchase, and the auntie also gave us a bunch of freebies with her generosity. We said it was enough, so she f

I said to the aunt, let me take a photo of you. She became shy and didn't look at the camera, but her eyes were full of joy.

Xinjiang has become incredibly popular in the past two years. The long lines of cars queuing at Salimu Lake are intimidating, but obviously most local people in Urumqi have not been affected by the commercial tide.

They silently watch at this transit station as waves of tourists and young people come and go.

Despite the cold weather, handmade ice cream is still worth eating. There is a handmade ice cream shop in Lingguan Lane that has been famous for more than ten years. It is the only shop I have come to visit. Having a taste of handmade ice cream in th

What is interesting is that it is not just an ice cream shop. The owner is also quite talkative and said that it is also an old-fashioned hat store. Here, they sell many Soviet-style newsboy hats that are both vintage and good-looking. Yes, I bought

I don't know why, I just keep buying here. We are joking with each other. The owners' mandarin isn't very good, but it becomes our driving force to buy more.

It's not about impulse buying driven by sales pitches, but about our own initiative and genuine desire to buy.

After dinner, the main course was so satisfying that we got carbon-loaded and tipsy. We took a taxi to Karamay West Street, near Xinjiang University and Xinjiang Museum. This used to be an integration community of various ethnic groups, but in recent

Billy, a literary and artistic tough guy who returned from Guangzhou to his hometown, has opened a café that is the first on West Street.

Billy, who has impressive biceps and triceps, was working as a jewelry designer in Zhuhai, Guangzhou before returning to his hometown in 2024. Living near Karamay West Street, he unexpectedly brought popularity to the street. Since then, local young

Before we go further, it is important to clarify that these young people who returned to their hometown are not the intimidating event organizers one might encounter on the internet, but rather are Xinjiang children with a tough exterior and a tender

Billy's cafe has its own characteristics. Instead of doing a big decoration on the basis of the old house, he uses the background color and paints his own wasteland style on it. Customers can also write on the wall. Less than two years later, the wal

I asked for a big fountain pen and wrote down the words 'that city'. He said, 'You are the last people who write', and then he wouldn't let others write anymore.

I said okay, let's settle it then.

What makes me feel comfortable and natural is not only the decoration, but also the specialty drinks made by Billy's wife. We ordered three drinks, and none of them were disappointments. They were so good that I came back the next day by car to have

Billy's specialty also includes selling crystal ornaments and silver rings in the store. We fell in love with a piece worn by the shop owner. She directly took it off, a beautiful sea blue crystal that brings peace and leaves a lasting impression.

It was later, when I was scrolling through social media platforms, that I realized this was the café where many celebrities checked in. Such a small shop, but who would have thought there were so many stories behind it?

Actually, all the shops in West Street are small, but they are big on the inside, with first-class aesthetics. The vintage shop next door has an alternative looking owner, who is gentle at heart and quite a talkative person. He collects unique clothe

When buying skirts and shirts, cost-effectiveness is a minor concern, what's more adorable is the emotional value it brings.

The coffee shop opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m., we lingered and became the last customers. The burly owner recommended the mixed noodles next door. We've had numerous plates of mixed noodles these days, with huge portions in massive bowls, and

The milk skin yogurt is rich and not sweet, just like the people here. At first glance, they might not appear passionate, but beneath their robust Xinjiang robes, they hide a warm and sincere heart.

Back at the hotel, surprises and warmth continue.

I mentioned that the floor heating is a bit too hot, and the hotel immediately responded by sending over a bunch of fruits and bottled water, along with a fan. When I was having breakfast the next day and sneezed, the server brought me another humidi

In Xinjiang Museum, there is a treasured exhibit that was unearthed in the Han Dynasty in 1995, which is a piece of Shu Tapestry. Its preciousness lies not only in the high level of difficulty in making the Shu Tapestry, but also in the few words on

This is an astronomical phenomenon, which is a divination of ancient Chinese astrology. It means that the five planets of gold, wood, water, fire and earth gather in the sky, which is a great luck.

The pattern of the Five-Star Brocade features auspicious birds and animals such as the phoenix, the phoenix-like bird, the unicorn, and the white tiger, as well as auspicious clouds and herbs. The words 'Five stars rise in the east, benefiting China'

It is said that the last time such an astronomical phenomenon occurred was in 1921, and the next will be in 2040. The museum also displays a countdown to the next complete display of the five planets, which is approximately over 5000 days.

Interesting. Together with the ancient corpse of Loulan in another famous exhibition hall, they were waiting for the arrival of the five-star astronomical phenomena on this day. I continued to look at several other treasures of the town and museum, b

The staff came specially to remind me to return the 10 yuan for the storage. It's free here, remember to refund. Haha, I am accustomed to the genuine sincerity of the people here. I think Urumqi is such a place that is ordinary yet warm, it is not ju

As I walked out of the museum, I saw a beautiful golden tree and pressed the shutter button to capture the moment full of autumn feeling before the snowfall.

At this moment, as I am typing here, the hotel staff are still outside clearing the snow. They helped us with getting a taxi, reminded us to be careful, and we waved goodbye to this city.

Regardless of the destination, it is always the people that attract me most in a city.

This article is from the WeChat public account That City.