Abstract: In the process of urbanization, urban spatial structure and organization mode are being transformed tremendously, and use of private cars causes traffic congestion and increased carbon emissions. It has become a hot research topic to investigate the relationships between urban spatial structure, residents' outings and carbon emissions from the perspective of micro-mechanisms. In this paper, based on a survey of daily activities of 600 households' from Urumqi City in 2011, basic characteristics of the residents' outings and spatial characteristics of their commuting were analyzed. In addition, the outing-related transport carbon emissions and the influencing factors in different urban areas were examined. The survey covered the activities recorded in consecutive 48 hours including a Sunday and a Monday. The results indicated that: (1) Urumqi residents' outings are mainly commuting. Outings in different areas show spatial diversity: the numbers of trips per capita in the two areas, the central area of inner city and suburban satellite towns, are higher than those in other areas, but the total trip distances in the two areas are significantly shorter than those in other areas. Imbalance of urban development between northern areas and southern areas affect suburbanites' outings. The residents in the areas are more dependent on the central city areas for jobs and services, due to lack of public service infrastructures in southern suburbs, whereas the residents in the northern suburbs tend to work near their own living areas, thanks to adequate employment opportunities and service facilities. (2) In comparison to the large cities on the east, the average actual commuting distance in Urumqi is 4.9 km, shorter commuting distance but longer commuting time. Commuting distance in space shows a significant increasing trend from inner areas to outer areas. (3) The direct carbon emission per capita from residents' daily outings in Urumqi was 682.95 g in 2011. Carbon emissions from residents' daily outings vary significantly in different urban areas, with low-carbon emission in the central area and the satellite towns, moderate-carbon emission in near suburbs and high-carbon emission in far suburbs.

Key words: carbon emissions, commuting characteristics, residents' outings, urban spatial structure, Urumqi City