Located on Hongshan Road, Shuimogou District, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Hongshan Park is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. As a comprehensive natural mountain park, it integrates tourism, classical features, cultural connotations, and sports fitness, and is also one of the new ten scenic spots in Urumqi. The park covers a total area of 4.1 square kilometers, including the main park area and 5 street gardens, with a green coverage rate of 97.5%. There are more than 70 species and 30,000 trees in the park, the total area of park roads is 36.24 mu (about 2.416 hectares), with a length of about 7,000 meters, as well as 5 tourist public toilets, 268 sets of lighting equipment, more than 600 propaganda display windows, signboards and reminder slogans, 193 fitness equipment, more than 700 leisure seats, 730 classified trash cans and facilities.
History and Culture
Hongshan Park is named after Hongshan (Red Mountain), whose mountain body is composed of purple sandstone, showing an ochre-red color. According to geological research, Hongshan rose together with the Tianshan Mountains during the Himalayan orogenic movement about 80 million years ago, and the mountain has rare fossil resources. Legend has it that in ancient times, a red dragon was cut in half by the Queen Mother of the West here, forming Hongshan and Yamalike Mountain, and the sword became the Urumqi River.
Hongshan has always been regarded as a holy place and a location for distant worship of Bogda Mountain. In the 53rd year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1788), to suppress evil dragons and bless the people, two pagodas were built on the top of Hongshan and Yaomo Mountain. Historically, there were ancient temple groups such as Dafo Temple, Yuhuang Temple, and Dizang Temple at the foot of Hongshan, which were the gathering place of Urumqi's classical architecture and the resort for temple fairs. After the "September 18th" Incident in 1931, due to wars and other reasons, the ancient temple groups were damaged. On the eve of liberation, only the gate of Dafo Temple remained. When Hongshan Park was expanded in 1989, the gate of Dafo Temple was relocated to the top of the mountain as it was, and the main hall, wing rooms, and scripture pavilion of Dafo Temple were reconstructed.
Main Attractions
Hongshan Tower
Built in 1788, Hongshan Tower is the earliest historical site among Urumqi's cultural relics and a symbol of "towning the mountain and locking the water". The tower is 10.5 meters high, with nine floors and a hexagonal plane, composed of the tower base, tower body, and tower brake. It is a blue-gray pavilion-style solid brick tower, which has remained intact after more than 200 years of wind, snow, and earthquakes. "Tower Reflecting Setting Sun" is one of the famous old eight scenic spots in Urumqi.
Dafo Temple
Dafo Temple is a Han Buddhist temple, with main buildings including the Heavenly Kings Hall, Mahavira Hall, Guanyin Hall, and Dizang Hall. The original ancient temple group was arranged from east to west at the foot of Hongshan, and Dafo Temple was the easternmost building. Historically, it was a resort for temple fairs and sightseeing. Now it is one of the larger Han Buddhist temples in Xinjiang, with simple and elegant buildings and vigorous incense.
Yuan Tiao Lou (Overlook Tower)
Located at the highest point of Hongshan, Yuan Tiao Lou is a three-story antique building in the Qing style, covering an area of 1,150 square meters, 21.95 meters high, surrounded by a 138-meter-long corridor with carved beams and painted rafters. Climbing to the top of the tower, you can overlook the peaks of the Tianshan Mountains and have a panoramic view of the bustling city.
Underground Palace
The Hongshan Underground Palace was a civil air defense project in the 1950s, with a total length of 460 meters. In 1996, it was converted into the "Zhenqi Cave" of Liaozhai Palace, and later renamed the Underground Palace, covering an area of 1,300 square meters. Taking folk myths and stories as the theme, it intuitively and three-dimensionally displays the story content through sculpture, color painting, and combined with sound, light, control and other technologies.
Lin Zexu Memorial Statue
Built to commemorate the national hero Lin Zexu, on December 4, 1845, Lin Zexu climbed Hongshan, full of emotions, and composed a poem about Hongshan. A anti-drug bronze tripod is placed beside the statue, and Hongshan has become the first anti-drug education base in Xinjiang.
Qiting South Lake
The west and south of Qiting (Rest Pavilion) are steep cliffs, and standing in Qiting, you can enjoy the surrounding scenery. South Lake is located at the foot of Qiting, with rippling waves, and many tourists go boating here. On the south bank of South Lake is a sculpture with an inscription by Wang Enmao, and the north inscription records the development history of Hongshan Park.
Food
Spicy and Numbing Chicken
Made from free-range chicken, it has a good taste, texture, and rich nutrition. Hongguan Spicy and Numbing Chicken is recommended. This popular restaurant offers Spicy and Numbing Chicken with a strong numbing taste.
Hand-Pulled Rice (Zhua Fan)
Known as "Bola" in Uyghur, it is a traditional food in Xinjiang, with more than 10 varieties such as mutton hand-pulled rice, chicken hand-pulled rice, and vegetarian hand-pulled rice. Generally, mutton is used, which is shiny, fragrant, soft, and nutritious. Loulansao Zhuafan Shule (Hongshan Store) is recommended for its authentic taste and affordable price.
Roasted Lamb Skewers
Selected fresh lamb is skewered on special iron sticks, roasted over charcoal, and sprinkled with cumin, chili powder, and other seasonings, resulting in a crispy outer layer and tender inner meat, with a rich aroma. Many snack stalls and restaurants near the park sell them.
Tickets
The park is free to visit, and some small attractions inside charge separately. For specific fees, please consult the scenic area.
Yuan Tiao Lou: 10 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "乌鲁木齐红山公园" on WeChat to get the latest updates.
Opening Hours
Open year-round from 07:30 to 23:00. The specific business status is subject to the daily opening situation.
Tour Route
It is recommended to enter from the east gate of the park, and sequentially visit the Double Deer Welcome Statue, Dafo Temple, Hongshan Tower, Lin Zexu Memorial Statue, Yuan Tiao Lou and other attractions, then go to Qiting South Lake, walk along the lake to enjoy the lake view, and finally choose to visit the Underground Palace according to personal interests.
Transportation
- Take bus routes 29, 35, 61, 62, 63, 73, 908, 919, 927 and get off at Hongshan Park Station.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Hongshan Tower: The landmark building of Urumqi, an excellent place to climb high and overlook the panoramic view of the city, where you can enjoy the beauty of "Tower Reflecting Setting Sun".
- Yuan Tiao Lou: Located at the highest point of Hongshan, it offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the Tianshan Mountains and the bustling scene of Urumqi, with classical architectural charm.
- Dafo Temple: With a long history, it is one of the larger Han Buddhist temples in Xinjiang. The simple buildings and vigorous incense allow you to feel the atmosphere of Buddhist culture.
Tour Tips
- Spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit with pleasant weather; the ultraviolet rays are strong in summer, so sun protection is needed; it is cold in winter, and pay attention to anti-skid in snowy days.
- Wear comfortable sports shoes for easy mountain climbing and walking.
- If time permits, rest on the lawn in the park and enjoy the sunshine and natural atmosphere.
- In the evening, enjoy the beautiful sunset of Urumqi on the mountain viewing platform or by the lake.
Notes
- Pay attention to weather changes and arrange the itinerary and clothing reasonably.
- Respect local religious and cultural customs.
- Pay attention to environmental protection and do not litter.
- Keep personal belongings safe and pay attention to safety during mountain climbing and playing.