What does the pomegranate statue symbolize?

Victor explains that it represents unity among China's 56 ethnic groups, like pomegranate seeds held tightly together.

Do people still practice their religion?

Victor says he went to the mosque with his father when he was young, but COVID-era proof-of-health paperwork made visits complicated and many people stopped going.

How much is rent in Urumqi?

The travelers say rent in the residential area is around 2,000 to 3,000 yuan per month.

What are the cold noodles called?

They are called alpha, made from bean powder and described as a refreshing cold specialty from Kashgar, often eaten in summer.

Urumqi: 24 Hours in China's Most Restricted Region

Name: 24 Hours in China's Most Restricted Region
Uploaded: 2026-06-30
Duration: 29 min 58 s
Channel: Oskar and Dan
Description: We’re Oskar🧔🏻 and Dan👱🏻♂️, and we believe that anyone regardless of who they are deserves to live their dreams! For the past nine years, we’ve continued pushing boundaries by traveling and living all across the world, including places like Uganda, Brunei, and Saudi Arabia. In 2022, we reached a...

24 Hours in China's Most Restricted Region

Destination:ChinaProvince:XinjiangCity:Urumqi

Oskar and Dan2026-06-3029 min

Video Chapters

Oskar and Dan spend 24 hours in Urumqi during a transit stop, visiting Hongshan Park, the Xinjiang Provincial Museum and the International Grand Bazaar with guide Victor. They learn about local history and the pomegranate symbol, try vegan food and Uyghur dishes, and discuss rent and travel logistics. The visit also includes Turkish coffee, cold noodles from Kashgar and a hotel stay.

24 Hours in China's Most Restricted Region. This was filmed by Oskar and Dan. Watch the full journey and explore the filming details and destinations on this page.

We’re Oskar🧔🏻 and Dan👱🏻‍♂️, and we believe that anyone regardless of who they are deserves to live their dreams! For the past nine years, we’ve continued pushing boundaries by traveling and living all across the world, including places like Uganda, Brunei, and Saudi Arabia. In 2022, we reached a huge milestone by visiting 100 countries and we’re now on a mission to keep sharing our journey and hopefully make the world a little more open, compassionate, and peaceful along the way❤️</br>China was our 19th country together (first visited in 2016)🌏</br>We spent 24 hours in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang and one of China's most restricted regions, exploring a side of China most travelers never see. From Hongshan Park and the Xinjiang Provincial Museum to a vegan lunch in a local neighborhood and the stunning International Grand Bazaar, this Urumqi travel guide covers Uyghur culture, Central Asian food, Islamic architecture, and daily life in Western China. We stayed at the Conrad Urumqi, tried Turkish coffee and Western Chinese noodles, and walked through mosques and markets that feel worlds away from Beijing or Shanghai. China travel, Xinjiang travel, Uyghur food, Silk Road.

--- Oskar and Dan

June 30, 2026, Summer in China

Travel Guides & Tips in this video

Oskar and Dan explore Urumqi, Xinjiang, during a 24-hour transit stop with local guide Victor. At Hongshan Park they hear a dragon legend and learn about volunteers who planted 68,000 trees over 30 years. Victor, a Hui Muslim guide, explains the pomegranate symbol representing unity among China's 56 ethnic groups. At the Xinjiang Provincial Museum, maps show the region's area, population share and borders with eight countries. They visit a vegan restaurant in a residential neighborhood, where rent is around 2,000 to 3,000 yuan per month, and then explore the International Grand Bazaar. There they try Turkish coffee stirred with chopsticks, cold noodles called alpha from Kashgar and other local foods. The trip also includes the Conrad Urumqi, Luckin Coffee and a discussion of how China's single time zone affects sunset.

More about the current video:(Published on 2026-06-30)

Hongshan Park, city history and local food

Oskar and Dan spend 24 hours in Urumqi during a transit stop. Their visit begins with a stay at the Conrad Urumqi, where a basic room costs about $140 per night and includes marble bathrooms and Central Asian touches; they receive an upgrade to a luxury suite. They meet their guide Victor and visit Hongshan Park, which was built by volunteers on desert land in the 1960s. A monument honors people who planted 68,000 trees over 30 years. Victor tells them a local story about two dragons and explains the pomegranate statue, a symbol of unity among China's 56 ethnic groups.

At the Xinjiang Provincial Museum, maps show Xinjiang's size, population and borders. Victor says the region covers 16 percent of China's land, has less than 2 percent of the population and borders eight countries. He also explains that COVID paperwork has made mosque visits uncommon. The travelers make a Luckin Coffee stop before lunch at a vegan restaurant in a residential neighborhood. They use the Happy Cow app to find it, and discuss monthly rent of around 2,000 to 3,000 yuan. A menu item called “She'd never be born with potatoes” catches their attention.

The International Grand Bazaar

The bazaar is a highlight, with Central Asian and Persian-style architecture, Chinese flags, live music and a dance square. Oskar and Dan see Turkish coffee, local food and crowds, especially during Eid holidays when people have time off. They try Turkish coffee stirred with chopsticks, as well as a deep-fried nut pastry and cold noodles from Kashgar called alpha. Victor says alpha is made from bean powder, is served cold and refreshing, and is often eaten in summer. They also see ostrich eggs and plov at a food market.

The travelers reflect on the mix of Uyghur, Kazakh and Turkish influences and the contrast between familiar and unfamiliar parts of the city. They note that China's single time zone means sunset in Urumqi comes around 8:20 PM. Their visit includes a final ride to the airport and reflections on the stop. The video presents the city through the guide's explanations, museum maps, food and the busy bazaar, while noting practical details such as hotel value and local rent.

FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)

Q: What does the pomegranate statue symbolize?: A: Victor explains that it represents unity among China's 56 ethnic groups, like pomegranate seeds held tightly together.

Q: Do people still practice their religion?: A: Victor says he went to the mosque with his father when he was young, but COVID-era proof-of-health paperwork made visits complicated and many people stopped going.

Q: How much is rent in Urumqi?: A: The travelers say rent in the residential area is around 2,000 to 3,000 yuan per month.

Q: What are the cold noodles called?: A: They are called alpha, made from bean powder and described as a refreshing cold specialty from Kashgar, often eaten in summer.

Urumqi: 24 Hours in China's Most Restricted Region

Urumqi 24-Hour Transit: Xinjiang's Central Asian Side

In just 24 hours, Oskar and Dan dive into Urumqi, the restricted heart of Xinjiang. From the Hongshan Park's two dragons legend to the Xinjiang Provincial Museum's mummies, they sip Luckin Coffee, feast on vegan Uyghur lunch, and haggle at the International Grand Bazaar. This whirlwind tour reveals a Silk Road city where Islamic architecture and Central Asian flavors collide—a side of China few travelers ever see.

Attractions in this video: Hongshan Park, Xinjiang Provincial Museum, International Grand Bazaar