Abstract: Based on the developing process of urban space of Urumqi City, this work reveals the evolution characteristics of the socio-spatial structure during the period of Republic of China. In the early period, Urumqi was divided into five social areas:Manchu soldiers residential area, Han businessmen residential area, Uygur and Hui residential area, Russian immigrants residential area, and agricultural population residential area. In the late period, inside the city there were government area and Han businessmen residential area, but outside the city there were Uygur and Hui residential area and agricultural population residential area. In the context of warlord rule, the surrounding powerful nationstates, and immigration,urban social space of Urumqi started to show overall difference between the inside and outside of the city in races, social class, and culture. The powers of government and military were the leading factors for the evolution of urban social spatial structure of Urumqi. The multi-culture and multi-ethnic history was the fundamental factor for the evolution of Urumqi socio-spatial structure. The ethnic policy, the development of urban business, and the population urbanization are the direct factors for the evolution of Urumqi socio-spatial structure.

Key words: urban socio-spatial structure, Urumqi, the period of Republic of China