Ürümqi

Ürümqi lies on the northern side of the Tian Shan, where mountain water supports settlement at the edge of Dzungaria. The surrounding country connects steppe routes with passes toward the oases south of the range. The Qing took Ürümqi in 1755 during their conquest of the Dzungar Khanate. Between 1763 and 1767 settlers expanded the town into a walled city, which was renamed Dihua. Garrisons, cultivation and trade developed in the changed frontier, drawing people from different regions. The city's growth was part of a profound political and demographic transformation following the destruction of Dzungar power, while its position near mountain water and routes continued to shape its importance.