Friday, August 8, 2008

China | Xinjiang Province | Urumqi

Urumqi, in Xinjiang Province, China, has long been one of my favorite cities. Thus it is sad to read this news on the first day of Olympics in Beijing:
Xinjiang's capital, Urumqi, appeared to be on high alert today. Security guards were checking bags at the entrances of hotels, department stores and discos in the busy city, where office towers and apartments buildings have been shooting up in recent years. Guards with red arm bands rode on most public buses, watchful for attackers. Small groups of police patrolled the sidewalks of the bustling Muslim quarter, where merchants cooked lamb kebabs and sliced up watermelons at fruit stands.
Downtown Urumqi

Hong Shan (Red Mountain) in downtown Urumqi

Uighur Quarter in Urumqi

The famous Erdaoqiao Market in the Uighur Quarter

Uighur Restaurant

Performers in Uighur Restaurant

Uighur Carpet Store

Sample carpets

Pomegranates