Ürümqi to Astana flights
Astana lies 1,460 km (907 mi) north-west of Ürümqi, -1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 2 h 37 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
| Ürümqi | Astana | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | China | Kazakhstan |
| Population | 4.1 million | 1.5 million |
| Elevation | 862 m (2,828 ft) | 358 m (1,175 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+6 (Asia/Urumqi) | UTC+5 (Asia/Almaty) |
| Nearest large airport | URC, 16 km out | NQZ, 17 km out |
Clocks in Astana are 1 h behind Ürümqi right now, so a 2 h 37 min journey lands only 1 h 37 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Astana
Crossing from China into Kazakhstan: money changes from the Yuan Renminbi to the Tenge (KZT); sockets are Euro, Schuko; the dialling code becomes +7; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1061257 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648794.
Airports at each end
Leaving Ürümqi
Ürümqi is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Ürümqi Tianshan International Airport (URC), 16 km (10 mi) from the centre, whose 11,811-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft.
Arriving in Astana
Astana is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ), 17 km (11 mi) from the centre, whose 11,484-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft.
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport | NQZ | 17 km (11 mi) | 11,484 ft | 1,165 ft |
Book a flight to Astana
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Flights are sold here by AirOrSeaTravel through our booking partner, Nuitée, which takes the payment; the ticket is issued by the airline. How this works.
Staying in Astana
Our booking partner lists 490 places to stay in Astana. Of the 242 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (124), and 13 are five-star. Across 108 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.4 out of 10. Guests have left 72,152 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Astana
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Astana from Ürümqi?
1,460 km (907 mi) in a straight line, north-west of Ürümqi.
How long does it take to get from Ürümqi to Astana by air?
About 2 h 37 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Ürümqi and Astana?
Astana is 1 h behind at the moment (Asia/Almaty against Asia/Urumqi).
Which airports are used for Ürümqi to Astana flights?
Typically Ürümqi Tianshan International Airport (URC) to Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ).
What currency do I need in Astana?
The Tenge (KZT).
Where can I stay in Astana?
Our booking partner lists 490 places to stay in Astana, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.