In the wake of the mainland's worst ethnic violence in living memory and a government clampdown on non-official sources of information, Urumqi has become a massive rumour mill.
Both the Han and Uygur communities doubt state media are giving them the full picture, and word-of-mouth sources are filling the void - often underscoring ethnic divisions.
'There were more than 1,000 people killed on this street. The road was covered with mutilated bodies,' Li Hui said as he drove his taxi along Dawan Road. 'These were the acts of beasts. They have no humanity.'
Mr Li did not see any of the violence with his own eyes, but like many in the city, he believes what he hears.
The street was the scene of some of the worst of the rioting on July 5, but even local witnesses only point to a handful of actual killings.
'That's rubbish,' Mr Li said. 'The government just doesn't want to admit how horrible it was.'
