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
