Ürümqi Kilometre Zero

There is no official Kilometre Zero marker in Ürümqi but the liberation monument in People's Square has the biggest claim to being the city's centre point

Unlike Shanghai, Ürümqi does not appear to possess an officially designated Kilometre Zero monument. No plaque, marker or survey point officially identifies the exact location from which road distances are measured and the local authorities were not forthcoming with any information that could help me identify the correct coordinates. Nevertheless, whilst visiting the city in May 2026, I decided to investigate what might reasonably be regarded as the closest equivalent.

My search led me to People's Square, the civic heart of Ürümqi. If any location can lay claim to being the city's centre point, this is probably it. The square sits at the heart of the regional capital and is dominated by the Monument to the People's Liberation Army's Peaceful Liberation of Xinjiang, a prominent landmark standing between lts of modern glass office blocks.

Arriving shortly after sunrise on a Saturday morning, I found the square already full of activity. Groups of local residents were practising Tai Chi, whilst others danced to local music in ad-hoc groups (it appeared as anyone was welcome to join any group). A small group, but one which caught my eye, were a group of ladies performing elegant sword forms with long silk tassels attached to their blades tracing sweeping arcs through the air. The exercise was probably Taijijian, or "Tai Chi Sword", a traditional martial art that emphasises fluid movement, balance and grace rather than combat. Nevertheless, I wouldn't want to fight them!

Although none of this had anything to do with Kilometre Zero, it was precisely the sort of unexpected local experience that often makes these small adventures worthwhile.

In the absence of any recognised marker, I recorded the position of the Liberation Monument in the square using a Garmin GPS as:

• Latitude: 43° 47.6477' N
• Longitude: 087° 37.2778' E

Whether this can truly be considered Ürümqi's Kilometre Zero is open to debate. However, given the square's importance within the city and its role as a focal point for civic life, it is probably as close as one can reasonably get. Sometimes that is enough.