Uyghur Culture in Urumqi: Food, Traditions & Warm Hospitality

Urumqi, Xinjiang, China - Jack and Paige take a further look into the everyday life of Uyghurs living in Xinjiang. On our mission to delve into the life of Uyghurs in Urumqi, we spent the day exploring local neighbourhoods. Our adventure began with lunch at a cosy local restaurant where we enjoy Laghman, a hand-pulled noodle dish, and Polo, a fragrant rice pilaf.

After our meal, we hit the streets to sample Uyghur hand-churned ice cream and refresh ourselves with freshly squeezed pomegranate juice from street vendors. We find a man selling snakes for medicinal services before venturing deeper into the neighbourhood, where we encountered incredibly warm and hospitable locals. A Lamb BBQ restaurant owner welcomes us into his family-run establishment, offering us free Lamb Skewers while taking about his family and their business.

Continuing our exploration, we stumbled upon a local barber shop. Jack decided to get a Uyghur makeover, enjoying the unique experience surrounded by chirping birds. We rewarded the skilled barber and had the pleasure of meeting his family, who greeted us with smiles and warm conversation.