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Ben and Rian of On Tour With Dridgers spend their first day in Urumqi exploring local markets and the Grand Bazaar. They see fresh fruit and flatbreads, then try lamb skewers seasoned with cumin, stuffed breads, and other food. Rian uses pictures to order despite the language barrier, and a 32 yuan lamb skewer is described as juicy and flavorful. They also try melon, a chicken skewer, orange juice, a stuffed bun Ben suspects contains kidney, and an Americano served in a naan bread cup. The couple visit the Grand Mosque and discuss the source’s count of 139 mosques in Urumqi, then ride the metro, where they notice full-body scanners and a strong security presence. They later buy plums from a local woman and end the day with a local beer. Conversations and recommendations from vendors shape their impressions of the city.
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Markets and food in Urumqi
Ben and Rian begin their first day in Urumqi by walking through a local market. They see fresh fruit and flatbreads and note the Uyghur writing, architecture, and food around them. At the Grand Bazaar, they find a wide selection of dishes, including large lamb skewers cooked with cumin, stuffed breads, and sizzling meats. Rian has difficulty with the local language but orders by pointing at pictures; the lamb skewer costs 32 yuan. They also sample orange juice, a chicken skewer, and a stuffed bun that Ben thinks may contain kidney. A vendor serves an Americano in a naan bread cup, which Ben had wanted to try.
Mosque, metro, and local conversations
The travelers sit across from the Grand Mosque and discuss the source’s figure of 139 mosques in Urumqi. They later visit an indoor market selling jewelry and herbal remedies, then take the metro back toward their hotel. They describe the security checks as strict, including full-body scanners, and note the presence of armed officers. Back in their neighborhood, they buy plums from a local woman who asks about their travels. The couple also try melon, which they describe as exceptionally sweet and juicy, and finish the day with a local beer. Their route links food and market visits with transit and conversations, while the security experience remains part of their first-day impressions of Urumqi.
Food stops and metro checks
The couple’s food trail includes a 32 yuan lamb skewer seasoned with cumin, stuffed breads, and sizzling meat at the Grand Bazaar. Rian points to pictures to order because he struggles with the local language. They try orange juice, a chicken skewer, and a stuffed bun that Ben suspects contains kidney. Later, Ben gets the Americano he wanted in a naan bread cup; he finds the coffee bland but enjoys eating the cup afterward. The couple discuss the Grand Mosque and the figure of 139 mosques in Urumqi, then enter the metro and encounter full-body scanners and armed officers. They also describe how a conversation with a plum vendor in their neighborhood leads to a friendly exchange about their travels.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What were the lamb skewers like?
- A: Ben and Rian describe the lamb skewers as large, juicy, and cooked with cumin and spices. The one they discuss cost 32 yuan, and they considered it worth trying.
- Q: How did they find the coffee served in a naan cup?
- A: They found the Americano a little bland, but enjoyed the novelty of drinking it from a naan bread cup and eating the cup afterward.
- Q: What was security like on the Urumqi metro?
- A: The couple describe strict checks, including full-body scanners, and say they saw armed police. They found it intimidating but understood it as a security measure.
- Q: Which fruit did they enjoy most?
- A: They describe the melon as exceptionally sweet and juicy. They also bought plums from a local woman, which they said were delicious.
