A Glance at Xinjiang

by Pu Taogan

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region， which accounts for one sixth of Chinas total land area， has long been attractive to visitors from both China and beyond. It is considered mysterious not only because of its position at the heart of the Euroasian continent， its former role as a communications hub along the ancient Silk Road， and the meeting place for Oriental and Western cultures， but also because of its rich ethnic diversity. Uygurs， Kazakhstans， Kirgizs， Uzbeks， Xibes， and Mongolians can all be found in the region， a land as diverse as its inhabitants – deserts and oases， grasslands， snow-capped mountains， lakes， glaciers and rivers all contribute to Xinjiangs backdrop.

Urumqi， the capital， means “beautiful pasture” in Mongolian. Along with ideal land for grazing， Urumqi takes pride in its welldeveloped industries and thriving businesses. For generations，the people of Xinjiang have experienced dramatic life changes while embracing a fusion of traditional and modern – expressways complement small paths through the desert， 4-wheel-drive Toyotas race past wooden donkey carts， Coke rivals home-made fermented milk， French food competes with family BBQ， karaoke harmonizes with folk singing， manufactured clothing sets off hand-woven silk， Nano kitchenware meets wooden bowls and copper kettles， skyscrapers tower over adobe dwellings， and hi-tech agriculture progresses alongside slash-and-burn farming.

One highly-experienced photographer asserted that to wander around Xinjiang， one must have a good camera and a reverent， tolerant heart. Indeed， the uncanny landscapes of Xinjiang inspire mankinds deepest reverence for nature， while the regions unparalleled multiculturalism is a model for a tolerant civilization.