Fierce fighting broke out at the gates of the city, and one of the Chinese commanders torched a street where the Muslims troops had managed to break through at the West Gate, killing everyone in the vicinity, including refugees.

The Dungans were then forced to retreat into the range of machine gun fire, which killed many of them.

A White Russian force of 1,800 troops under Colonel Pavel Pappengut subsequently fought off the Muslim soldiers.

The Muslims attempted to scale the walls at the Great West Bridge, and several were killed.

The city was relieved when the provincial forces of newly incumbent Military Governor of Xinjiang (新疆督办) Sheng Shicai approached and the Muslim troops fled.