Urumqi, abbreviated Wushi, formerly known as Tihwa, is the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the far northwest of the People's Republic of China. Urumqi was a major hub on the Silk Road during China's Tang dynasty, and developed its reputation as a leading cultural and commercial center during the Qing dynasty in the 19th century. With an estimated population of 3.5 million in 2015, Urumqi is the second-largest city in China's northwestern interior as well as the largest in Central Asia in terms of population. According to the Guinness Book of Records, Urumqi has earned a place as the most remote city from any sea in the world. Urumqi has seen a huge economic development since the 1990s and currently serves as a regional transport node, a cultural, political and commercial center.

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