Urumqi Tianshan International Airport (formerly Diwopu) is Xinjiang’s core aviation hub. Connecting NW China with the world, it’s a key entry – point for overseas tourists. After upgrades, it’s the largest in Xinjiang, with dense domestic and international routes. The terminal offers multilingual guidance. Knowing its operations is vital for a smooth Xinjiang trip.
Basic Overview of Urumqi Tianshan International Airport
The development history of Urumqi Tianshan International Airport dates back to the mid-20th century. Formerly Urumqi Diwopu International Airport, it has gradually evolved from a small civil airport into a regional international aviation hub integrating domestic and international routes after decades of iteration and development. The renaming to “Tianshan International Airport” is not only a tribute to the Tianshan Mountains, a iconic geographical landscape of Xinjiang, but also highlights its core positioning as a window for Xinjiang’s opening up to the outside world.
Geographically and in terms of hardware scale, the airport is located in the northwestern suburbs of Urumqi, about 16 kilometers from the urban area, covering an area of over 100,000 square meters. It has two long-distance runways, capable of accommodating the take-off and landing of large wide-body airliners such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus A330. The airport currently has three terminals, among which Terminal T3 is dedicated to international route operations and is the first core contact area for overseas tourists upon arriving in Xinjiang. Notably, the airport’s design deeply integrates the regional cultural characteristics of Xinjiang. The interior decoration of the terminal incorporates artistic elements of ethnic minorities such as the Uyghur and Kazakh peoples, from murals to ornaments, exuding a strong Western Region charm, allowing overseas tourists to intuitively experience the allure of Xinjiang as soon as they land.
As the aviation core of northwest China, the annual passenger throughput of Urumqi Tianshan International Airport has been rising year by year. Even after the renaming, its status as Xinjiang’s aviation hub remains unchanged. For overseas tourists, it is not only a gateway to Xinjiang but also an important transfer node radiating to Central Asia. From the airport, one can conveniently travel to Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, making it a key air bridge connecting northwest China with Central Asia and Europe.
Urumqi Tianshan International Airport
International Route Network of Urumqi Tianshan International Airport
As a gateway airport for China to Central Asia and West Asia, the international route network layout of Urumqi Tianshan International Airport accurately matches the travel needs of overseas tourists. At present, direct flights to major Central Asian cities such as Almaty, Tashkent, Bishkek and Dushanbe have been opened, and transfer routes to Eurasian cities such as Istanbul and Moscow are also available, greatly facilitating the travel of tourists from Europe and Central Asia to and from Xinjiang.
Tourists coming from Europe can take international flights to domestic hub cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, then transfer to domestic flights to Urumqi Tianshan International Airport directly; tourists from Central Asia can choose direct flights and arrive in Xinjiang within a few hours to start their Silk Road exploration journey. In addition, the airport has built a dense route network with major cities across the country. From here, one can quickly transfer to well-known tourist destinations in Xinjiang such as Kashgar, Ili and Kanas, forming a convenient travel chain of “international arrival – transfer in Urumqi – full tour of Xinjiang”.
In terms of domestic route coverage, the airport also performs excellently, with direct flights to first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu, as well as routes connecting popular tourist cities in the northwest such as Xi’an, Lanzhou and Dunhuang, making it convenient for overseas tourists to seamlessly integrate their Xinjiang trip with trips to other parts of China. For overseas travelers planning an in-depth tour of northwest China, the airport’s hub function makes itinerary planning more flexible and efficient.
Terminal Facilities and Exclusive Services for Overseas Tourists
The terminal facilities of Urumqi Tianshan International Airport are built to international standards, providing a number of exclusive services for overseas tourists to greatly enhance the foreign travel experience. In the T3 international terminal, multilingual guide signs cover English, Russian, Kazakh and other languages, completely solving language communication barriers; currency exchange points are set up in the airport, supporting the exchange of RMB and Central Asian national currencies, and also compatible with various payment methods such as credit cards and mobile payments, fully meeting the consumption needs of overseas tourists.
In terms of rest and consumption, there are abundant catering and shopping venues distributed in the terminal. Restaurants offer not only Xinjiang’s characteristic delicacies such as pilaf, baked samosa and lamb skewers, but also international catering options such as Western food and fast food, catering to overseas tourists with different dietary preferences; duty-free stores gather global cosmetics, luxury goods and local specialties such as Hetian jade, Xinjiang cotton products and dried fruits, making them an ideal place for overseas tourists to buy souvenirs. In addition, the airport is equipped with VIP lounges, free charging piles, luggage storage and other convenient facilities, providing a comfortable resting space for overseas tourists on long trips and relieving travel fatigue.
To address entry issues that overseas tourists may face, the airport has set up an entry-exit consultation desk where staff can provide professional consulting services such as visa extension and entry registration; multilingual translation services are also available, and tourists can seek help at any time if they encounter any difficulties during their trip. These meticulous service settings make Urumqi Tianshan International Airport not only a transportation hub but also the first window for overseas tourists to feel the warmth of Xinjiang.
Tourism Connections and Practical Travel Tips
After arriving at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport, traveling to the urban area or tourist destinations conveniently is the primary need of overseas tourists. The airport has built a diversified transportation connection system to adapt to different travel preferences: multiple airport bus routes have been opened between the airport and the urban area, with economical fares covering major business districts and hotel areas, and clear multilingual signs at the stations; for those pursuing comfort and convenience, taxis or ride-hailing services can be chosen. The taxi waiting area is located at the main exit of T3 terminal, with standardized vehicles and transparent prices. One can also book through international ride-hailing apps without worrying about communication problems throughout the process.
Airport Signage
If planning to travel from Urumqi to various parts of Xinjiang, the airport also provides convenient transfer options. A tourism distribution center is set up in the airport, where one can book chartered or shared car services to scenic spots such as Kanas, Ili and Kashgar, and also inquire about long-distance bus and train tickets; the airport is seamlessly connected to railway hubs such as Urumqi Station and Urumqi South Station. One can reach the railway stations by subway or bus, then transfer to high-speed rail or ordinary trains to various places, forming a three-dimensional tourism transportation network of “aviation + railway + highway”.
In addition, overseas tourists need to pay attention to the following practical tips: first, there is a time difference between Xinjiang and some countries, so it is recommended to adjust the schedule in time after arrival; second, Xinjiang has a dry climate and large temperature differences between day and night, so moisturizing products and light coats can be purchased in advance at the airport convenience store; third, if traveling to plateau areas such as the Pamir Plateau, anti-altitude sickness drugs can be bought at the airport pharmacy, and attention should be paid to plateau travel precautions in advance. Making these detailed preparations can make the Xinjiang trip smoother.
If overseas tourists hope to start an in-depth Xinjiang trip from Urumqi Tianshan International Airport but do not know how to plan, they can choose the professional services of Yulong Travel Agency. With rich experience in Xinjiang tourism planning, the agency not only provides airport pick-up and drop-off services but also customizes personalized itineraries according to tourists’ preferences and time, covering classic scenic spots such as the lake scenery of Kanas, the grassland flower sea of Ili and the style of Kashgar Ancient City. It also assists in handling travel procedures and solves problems such as language communication and transportation arrangements, making the Xinjiang trip of overseas tourists worry-free and comfortable, allowing them to fully appreciate the unique charm of this land.
