Urumqi is an important stop in ancient Silk road, this is our last stop in Xinjiang. The people who live here are a mixture of Hui, Uyghur and Han People. Urumqi city has the Guinness world record for being the city that is the most remote from the sea in the world. So you can imagine eating seafood is a luxury here.
The last city we visit in Xinjiang tour is Urumqi which is the capital of Xinjiang. We stayed in Hoi Tak Hotel again for the second time as we stayed here one week ago, coming from Turpan to Urumqi. Hoi Tak hotel is claimed a 5-stars hotel but it is the local standard of 5 Stars rating. It is said Hoi Tak Used to be the best hotel in town years ago.
The main hall of the reception is very beautiful and spacious with grand looking chandelier light. As usual you need to go through security metal detector at the entrance of the hotel. It is a standard practise in Xinjiang. I have already get use to if after spending more than a week here.
Front Reception speak no English at all, so you may need to use google translator from your phone.
Another grand chandelier light at the lifts area.
Fish Tank In Chinese Feng Sui
There is always a fish tank placed somewhere at in the hotel lobby in China. I am pretty sure this has something to do with Feng Sui. Fish tank are potent feng shui cure to attract the energy of wealth and abundance. Chinese believe if you place the fish tank at the right position, it help to attract more wealth Chi. Koi & Gold Fish are usually kept in these tanks but sometime arowana too.
Shopping in the Hotel : The famous Jade of Heshibi
There are some shopping stores in the hotel and jade store is one of them. Spotted this big piece of jade which look like that shape of Heshibi/和氏璧. There is a fable story behind the Heshibi Jade.
Hotel Room Review
The hotel room is spacious, nice view from the top. You can see the whole Urumqi city from the window of the hotel room.
Window View Overseeing Urumqi Downtown
Urumqi in Mongolian mean ‘beautiful pasture’. It is located in the hinterland of Asia and Europe, adjacent to the countries of Central Asia, an important hub between East and West. It is a big city in Xinjiang.
Hotel bathroom review
The bathroom has all the basic thing we need. I won’t it as 5 star toilet bathroom but at least the floor is not wet.
Hotel Breakfast Review
There are a wide spread of breakfast buffet including Western and Chinese. Plenty of fresh salad and pastries.
Cereal Bar
Salad Bar
Gym, Swimming Pool & Hair Saloon
The gym located at 6th floor is operating from 10 am to 10 pm but I was too busy to check it out. There are also swimming pool and beauty hair saloon at 6th floor.
Nearby Eateries & Shopping
Hoi Tak Hotel is nicely located in the heart of Urumqi downtown. There is a people park opposite the hotel and plenty of shopping and restaurant within walking distance.
Xinjiang Cuisine
We had our Xinjiang dish at the restaurant next to our Hotel. We ordered some of the local specialites.
The Jelly Noodles – Liangfen /凉粉 (above)
I love the texture of the Liangfen, it is as soft of jelly and look crystal clear. The Liangfen is made from starch, pea starch & sweet potato starch. The bite is smooth and cold, usually serve cold and topped with plenty of chili & chili oil. This is actually famous dish for Sichuan but who cares, you can eat it any part of China.
Xinjiang Lamian with Garlic chives & Beef/韭菜牛肉拉面
Beef with Green Pepper & Potatoes
You won’t find pork here as this is not a Han restaurant. Restaurant in Xinjiang usually serve beef & lamb.
Kung Fu King Black Chicken Feet/功夫王黑鳳爪
After our dinner, we went for a stroll and found some other specialties to try out – Kung Fu King.
There are several chain stores named Kung Fu Wang, selling mostly special parts of chicken & duck; eg, duck neck, duck liver or chicken feet which was already marinated with their special sauce and black pepper & chili. I have ordered the chicken feet to try. Mainly Chinese usually eat it when they are drinking alcohol. The chicken feet is very hard and chewy and not easy to bite, totally different from the chicken feet from Hong Kong dim sum Yam cha version. This one is more salty too but the dim sum chicken feet taste sweeter and skin is easy to peel off from the chicken feet bones.
Urumqi city is clean, there is road washing truck which help to make sure the road clean early in the morning before traffic starts. No litter is found and I am very impressed with how well the China society has improved. No doubt it will be the next world super power.
Chinese Propaganda
Another propaganda outside People Square which is opposite of Hoi Tak Hotel. The message is – “Hold the stability in this country firmly and treat it as a long time goal”. I love reading Chinese propaganda which was displayed everywhere to protect their party’s dominance over everyday life. Most of the propaganda I read so far all over Xinjiang are related to ethnic harmony since China has 56 ethnicities. The other famous one is “China Dream”. 🙂
People’s Square /烏魯木齊市人民廣場
Before you enter the People’s Square, you have to go through some security check too. Unlike other People’s Square in other provinces of China, the one here in Xinjiang, there is only have one entrance and the surrounding of the people park is all fence up.
Monument to the People’s Liberation Army’s March into Xinjiang
Grannies having their dance practise or early morning exercise in the People’s Square. Loud music was played.
Final thoughts :
Hok Tak Hotel Xinjiang is well located in the heart of downtown of Urumqi. There are plenty of restaurants and shopping nearby. The People’s Park is located right opposite Hoi Tak Hotel Xinjiang. I strongly recommend you to wake up earlier to check on the People’s Square to see the grannies dances and exercise.
You may like :
- Urumqi – Diwopu Airport Review (乌鲁木齐地窝铺国际机场)
- Urumqi – Shop like a local in the downtown
- Urumqi – Cultural Show @ International Grand Bazaar 絲綢之路 千年印象
- Urumqi – International Grand Bazaar, top 10 things to buy!
- Urumqi – Ancient Ecological Park boost Akhal-teke Horse 汗血宝马
30 comments
That food looks so good! I’m planning on visiting China this December, and I’d definitely check this one out! Thank you!
Dear RM,
I hope you enjoy your travel in China at the end of the year. It would be freezing cold in Urumqi city.
This is great. Ive been researching this area recently and stumbled across this post. Thank you for sharing Im pinning!
This gives me an idea of where to stay when next I visit China. It is also going to help in the planning. Thanks
The hotel looks great and has lovely amenities. I would love to check myself in there. Your captures are great and the food review along with that is delicious.
Urumqi really lovely place. The travelogue is so well described. congratulations.
Not many people heard about Urumqi city, it is the capital of Xinjiang. It is the most remote city away from the sea in the world. So you don’t find many seafood here. LOL
I need to visit China oh my, so beautiful that is definitely on my bucket list now. Those green armchairs are so gorgeous.
Dear Joan,
China is certainly a great place to visit with beautiful landscape plus long history. This part of China is at the northwest, a province called Xinjiang which has plenty of ethnic minorities and Uyghur minorities are one of them which are Turkic origin. Expect a lot of muslim in this region too.
Wow, what a fabulous hotel. I would love to stay here one day. That food looks amazing.
Dear Amber,
What I like about the hotel is its location which is at the heart of downtown and very close to the shopping streets in Urumqi.
The food looks so yummy. I also love all the chandaliers.
Dear Tara,
There are plenty of eateries nearby the Hoi Tak Hotel Urumqi. One of them which is open 24 hours is located at the right hand side of the hotel. The restaurants have 2 floor and serving all the local food.
This hotel looks so nice! All your posts are giving me serious wanderlust! I have defo added china to my travel bucket list!
Dear Corinne,
The hotel lobby is quite stunning upon stepping in but the rooms are pretty standard. Expect little less than what you see from the front lobby.
What a beautiful review. Amazing places and eye-catching food. Definitely want to go see.
Dear Lili,
The food in Xinjiang are certainly worth trying and a lot of them taste like the middle eastern Turkish food, such as kebab.
I have not heard about this place. Thanks for sharing. Pictures of this place are great.
Besides the fact that they don’t speak any english, this seems like a great place to stay! Like you said, I can always use google translator!
China is still on my list of places I have to go – I have only seen it from HK. But I need to go because I know it’s spectacular!
What an interesting place! I didn’t know that about fish tanks. Do you think the feng shui works without the fish, I’m not sure I’d remember to feed them…
Dear Moderatemum,
Thanks for asking the question about feng shui. I am no expert but I think it wont work without the fish… And only certain fishes bring in good luck such as koi, gold fish & arowana.
This place looks luxurious and perfect to spend vacation Like your photos!
Oh wow Hoi Tak Hotel looks so incredible. Love the gorgeous aesthetic. And the food looks really good, especially the noodle dishes.
Never been to china and I would love to be here. The hotel seems very cozy and relaxing place to stay.
I am thinking of visiting China too before the year ends and I guess this is a good timing to read more about the place so I will already have an idea before scheduling my trip.
This looks like a grand hotel and I’m adding it to my travel list. I’ve never been to China but this sounds like a nice city to visit. The noodle looks so good. Yum!
I don’t know any Chinese, so I would miss all the propaganda. That hotel looks super nice! I love that photo with the sunset along one of the buildings!
China is already in our bucket list. We wish we can visit China this year but not possible for now. The place looks awesome and the article too. You explained each and everything in detailed. Thanks for sharing your experience
Dear Delhi,
Glad to learn that China is in your bucket list and I hope you can visit China soon!