People's Square (Ürümqi)

People's Square of Ürümqi (simplified Chinese: 乌鲁木齐市人民广场; traditional Chinese: 烏魯木齊市人民廣場; Uyghur: ئۈرۈمچى خەلق مەيدىنى, Үрүмчи Хелқ Мейдини, romanized: Ürümchi Xelq Meydini) is a large public square located around the major intersections of Central Business District of Ürümqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China.

Located in Tianshan District, it is a primary tourist destination in the city and is also used to hold large events and serves as a general place of daily amusement for local residents.

In 1995, the provincial CPC committee and the government rebuilt the Square, with a monument set on the central ground.

On June 17, 2008, the People’s Square is the site of departure for the sacred flame during the 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay in Ürümqi.

[1] On July 5, 2009, mass protests by Uyghur against the Shaoguan incident took place as the onset of the later severe rioting that killed at least 197 people.