Urumqi Zhongtian Plaza Panorama | 230m Rooftop View Over the Silk Road City Beneath the Tianshan | 360° Gigapixel Panorama
From the city's highest point, overlook the Silk Road gateway beneath the Tianshan — and find a hometown in every pixel.
Description
Urumqi: A Silk Road City Beneath the Tianshan
Urumqi is one of China's westernmost major cities and the most important first stop for travel in Xinjiang. It connects the northern and southern Tianshan Mountains, and bridges the ancient Silk Road with the modern world. For many, the journey into Xinjiang begins the moment their plane descends toward Diwopu Airport. For the photographer, however, Urumqi is more than a city — it is an inseparable memory of home. Born here, he later left Xinjiang to study and work elsewhere. Returning after many years, even the dry, crisp air and a sip of Tianshan snowmelt water were enough to feel that nothing had truly been left behind.
Xinjiang's First Gigapixel Exploration
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many photographs were used to create this 190-gigapixel panorama?
The panorama was stitched from 5,266 high-resolution images captured individually, achieving a resolution of 190 gigapixels and covering over 500 square kilometers of urban area.
What is the relationship between this panorama and the 45-gigapixel Heavenly Lake panorama?
Both belong to the 'Great Beauty Xinjiang' gigapixel project. The Urumqi panorama looks eastward from the city toward Bogda Peak and the Tianshan, while the Heavenly Lake panorama looks back from Mayashan toward Urumqi, nearly 50 kilometers away. Together they provide complementary city-to-nature perspectives of the northern Tianshan foothills.
Why was Zhongtian Plaza chosen as the shooting location?
At approximately 230 meters, Zhongtian Plaza was the tallest building in Urumqi at the time, offering the best 360-degree overview of the city. The team set up equipment on the rooftop and photographed in all four directions to capture the full urban area and the distant Tianshan Mountains.
Why is Urumqi called 'the city farthest from the ocean'?
Located deep in the Eurasian interior, Urumqi is roughly 2,500 kilometers from the nearest ocean and is often described by geographers as one of the world's most landlocked major cities. This unique continental position gives Urumqi its dry, crisp climate and significant day-to-night temperature variation.
City Secrets Challenge
CITY SECRETS CHALLENGE
Uncover the stories behind the city — every answer holds a piece of urban memory.
Question 01 / 06