4 Best Hotels in Ürumqi, The Silk Road

Overlooking People's Square in bustling downtown Ürümqi, this hotel offers tastefully appointed rooms that would satisfy those seeking a higher level of comfort. For the best views, request a room on the east side. Standard rooms are not huge but offer ample closet space and clean bathrooms. The lobby bar, while straight out of the '70s, makes surprisingly good cocktails. Western options are lacking in the breakfast buffet, but at the very least you should be able to find eggs and fresh fruit.

Situated between the city center and the Xinjiang Museum, this hotel has long catered to foreign tourists and visiting diplomats. The reception area is inviting, and rooms have city views and smart decor. Restaurants are a convenient walk and the hotel sits right across the street from a market. Fair warning: you may be put off by the window between the shower and the bed, which the staff explain is "for your wedding night."

Very popular with both well-heeled business and leisure travelers, this luxury hotel pampers you with an indoor pool illuminated with skylights and one of the better hotel gyms you'll find in Ürümqi. The lobby gleams and the restaurant is lovely, including a breakfast buffet with reasonable Western style options. The rooms are spacious, with beds covered with snowy white sheets and fluffy duvets. Just outside the doors of the hotel you'll find some of the best shopping and food that Ürümqi has to offer.