Xinjiang in My Eyes

ON May 24, 2021, I boarded a flight to Urumqi from Beijing with a group of Chinese and foreign journalists to learn more about Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a vast territory that is home to many ethnic groups and diverse cultures. The visit has left me with lasting memories and a deeper understanding of the people and the region as a whole.

- MAHITAB AHMED

The Beauty of Xinjiang — Nalati

“If you don’t come to Xinjiang, you won’t know the beauty of China. If you don’t come to Nalati, you won’t know where that beauty is.” From the observation platform constructed to best take in the scenery, the azure blue sky, towering green hills, snow-capped mountains under white clouds, vast grasslands, and herds of cows, sheep, and horses create a peaceful and postcard image that will be long remembered by everyone who sees it.

Nalati is known as the “Entrance to Heaven on Earth” and the “Realm of Heaven on Earth.” It has a unique topography, with green hills on three sides, and a river crossing the central part. The raised hillsides are called saddles, as it brings to mind an image of people riding on horseback enjoying the beautiful scenery of the grassland.

According to local herdsmen, Nalati means the first place to see the sun. Located in Xinyuan County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, in the eastern section of the Ili River Valley, Nalati has an average elevation of 1,800 meters and a total planned area of 960 square kilometers. There are 27 main tourist attractions in this scenic area.

Multi-ethnic Harmony — Tacheng

Xinjiang is a place where more than a dozen ethnic groups have lived in harmony for a long time. In Tacheng, located in the northwestern part of Xinjiang and the southern end of the Junggar Basin, the long history, culture, and unique ethnic customs have had a profound influence on its development. We visited several multi-ethnic families there to find out more about the cultural exchanges among various ethnic groups in Tacheng, and how they pass on their traditional cultures, and also share these in the form of singing and performances.