Not really.

There's a very obvious separation between the two main groups, Han and Uyghur (Hui get on with everyone as far as I can tell). But, it's all kept simmering below the surface and a day-to-day life it's very difficult to know what people are really thinking. Day-to-day life, for us, is not in any way affected by the problems in 09.

The most obvious references we get from Han colleagues are "we had problems a few years ago, you should be careful of your safety", although we have also heard some godawful comments from people ("you must be careful; you can't trust them; they can be dangerous; they are violent) and Uyghurs, in my experience, tend to just roll their eyes skyward at any reference to the Han people or government. There's a lot they don't say to us, and fair enough.... it takes a fair while to get any sort of honesty out of anyone, especially if you steer the conversation into an even remotely political arena.

With all that said, I've never felt in the least bit threatened in my seven months-odd in Urumqi. I feel safe, here. In fact, one of the best things about living in Urumqi is the mix of cultures, that there's not a samey-ness to the people. Sadly the Uyghurs are often stereotyped, not so subtly, as dodgy and violent and I haven't seen any evidence to suggest that's a trait of the culture. 

I hope you enjoy it here. Any questions, inbox me.

'The Uyghurs are very good at singing and dancing and they wear brightly coloured hats to visit friends. They like pig very much so do not eat it. They eat watermelons'.

The above from a friend who is editing a tourist guide's textbook to Xinjiang.

The casual racism pisses me off no end. The Uyghurs are generally much nicer and have much better standards of personal hygiene.

I also was asking a similar question in another post.  Tolerance is very important on all levels but once tolerance has evaporated, it can be restored only with great difficulty.  The problems out west appeared to be quite serious at one recent point but if indeed things have settled down out there, it's an area of the country truly worth visiting before it has succumbed to modernity.

I've lived here for 15 months and enjoy the cultural mix.  I've never felt anything other than safe.

However the tension between Uyghir and Han is palpable.  They most definitely don't like each other, and rarely mix.

Thank goodness for Uyghir food.

Urumqi, other than Peoples' Park, is a shocker.  Millions of cars and grimy.

Hey MissA, you still here?

No visible tensions here in Fukang, 40 km N of Urumqi. 

Every (bigger) crossing in the city has police and military car present. But, they are just 'present'. They don't do any 'traffic regulating', they just 'walk' and 'sit' (in the cars). 

Every Primary School has small spot in 'guards quarters' at the entrance, for police with anti demonstration gear, but I've never seen any demonstrations or violence since May. No police present ever at the School, either. 

We have mixed students at Public Primary School (some 80% Han), teachers are all Chinese. Only 'no Han' employees at the School are guards and cleaners.