444 SOUTHERN DZUNGARIA 



capital of Sin-Kiang, or the New Dominion, is situated in 

 the midst of attractive surroundings, in a bay in the 

 mountain-wall at the point where the Tian Shan dips be- 

 fore joining the Bogdo-ola. Tucked away close under the 

 mountains, in a sheltered locality, and with an ample 

 water-supply, it presents a pleasing aspect to the traveller 

 after the bleak and featureless deserts. 



The position of Urumchi, although not practical 

 from a strategical point of view — being commanded by 

 the surrounding hills, is well chosen, for the capital is 

 situated in the heart of its administrative area, and also 

 at the junction of two great trans-continental trade- 

 routes, and of many local lines of communication. At 

 Urumchi the two main roads from China meet, namely, 

 the northern route across Mongolia and the southern 

 route through Lan-chow and Hami ; Urumchi is, also, 

 on the road to Hi, the most fertile and valued portion of 

 the New Dominion. As the capital of Dzungaria and 

 Chinese Turkestan, its position is admirable, being close to 

 the only point at which the great mountain-chain of the 

 Tian Shan drops low enough to permit the easy passage 

 of caravans between the two countries. The internal 

 trade, therefore, of these regions and all traffic between 

 Chinese Turkestan and the north must pass through 

 Urumchi. 



Although only the recently named capital of a newly 

 incorporated province, Urumchi ^ has already grown to be 

 a town of size and importance. It forms the residence 

 of the Governor of the province, a Fan-tei and Nea-tei 



^ Urumclii appears to be a corruption of the Mongol name Ulu-muchi. 

 Tihua, Tihua-fu, or Tih-hua-fu is the Chinese official name ; but the locals 

 always speak of the capital as Houng-miao-tze — " Red Temple," a name 

 which originated from the existence of a temple built on a red hill, close 

 by the town. 



