It is a port of entry by both railroad and highway from Kazakhstan as part of the Eurasian Land Bridge.

The city governs an area of 1,204 square kilometres (465 sq mi), including 12 square kilometres (4.6 sq mi) of built-up area, which is divided into Alatao and Aibihu subdistricts.

On the Chinese side, however, the westward construction of the Lanzhou-Xinjiang railway was stopped once it reached Ürümqi in 1962.

[7] On July 10, 2010, Bole Alashankou Airport was opened with scheduled flights to Ürümqi.

[8] Alashankou has again become a major transportation hub due to freight associated with the Belt and Road Initiative's Eurasian Land Bridge Economic Corridor.