As the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region marks its 70th anniversary, residents from diverse ethnic backgrounds are reflecting on decades of profound change. Once a remote frontier, Xinjiang has emerged as a critical trade corridor linking the Chinese mainland to Central Asia and beyond, with its GDP growing over 80-fold since 1955.
During recent celebrations, CGTN's Li Jingjing captured firsthand accounts from Uygur, Kazakh, and Han community members. "My grandfather traveled for weeks by camel to reach markets; today, my fruits reach Dubai within hours," shared Ablimit Memet, a Kashgar-based dried fruit exporter.
Infrastructure developments feature prominently in residents' narratives. The region now boasts over 7,000 km of railways and 21 civil airports, connecting once-isolated communities to global supply chains. Healthcare and education access has similarly transformed, with life expectancy doubling since the 1950s.
While acknowledging challenges, interviewees emphasized cultural preservation alongside modernization. "Our muqam music is now taught in schools with digital tools," noted cultural worker Gulnur Sawut. As night markets buzz with both lamb skewers and e-commerce pickup stations, Xinjiang's story unfolds as one of adaptation rather than erasure.
