Hami Hotels

Kumul is an oasis in Hami Prefecture, Xinjiang (China); it is also the name of a modern city and the surrounding district. It is well known in China as the home of the famously sweet Hami melons. Like Turpan, Qumul is in a fault depression about 200 metres below sea level, and temperatures are extreme, from a high of 43°C in summer to a low of -32°C in winter. Location: Kumul is located in the northern end of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, neighboring Gansu Province in the east, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the south. It shares a 587 kilometers (365 miles) boundary with Mongolia. History: Kumul Prefecture was called Yiwu throughout the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD), and Yizhou during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It is believed that the county was initially established in the year 327, during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. After the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it gained its present name - Hami, also Kumul. Physical Features: Kumul has elevated terrain in its center and lower terrain to the north and south. The Eastern Tianshan Mountains are located in the northern portion of Kumul, while deserts comprise the eastern and western regions. The central land is made up of a flourishing oasis. The Tianshan Mountains traverse the region and divide Kumul into its southern oasis and northern river valley and prairie. Climate: Kumul enjoys a typical temperate continental climate. The weather is dry and seldom rainy. Northern parts are cool in summers, filled with vast grasslands. The southern Kumul Basin is dry, with a temperature that varies greatly between day and night. When to Go: August and September are the best times to travel to Kumul, when it experiences cool weather and local fruits are in season.