Search This Blog

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Xinjiang, China, aka Uighur Autonomous Region

Below are some pictures my dad took while he was in Xinjiang last week. I thought I'd share them with you because Xinjiang is such an unique area in China. For one thing, the Xinjiangese or the Uighurs are not ethnically Chinese or East Asian at all.

Here is a brief history of Xinjiang: once upon a time, there was a group of people called the Han Chinese, and there was a group of people called the Uighurs, a nomadic Turkic people. They came into contact through trade via the Silk Road. The Hans eventually conquered the Uighurs and the situation in the region has been precarious ever since. According to my dad, although the two groups live in segregated quarters in Urumuqi, the capital of Xinjiang, they get along fairly well and he felt the Uighurs were hospitable people. However, southern Xinjiang is a different story. It is a very poor region and there has been strong separatist sentiments.

Downtown Urumuqi -- yep, definitely not Chinese

Kanas National Park

Kanas Lake

Some Kazakhs/Mongolians also live in the area. It seems a lot of ethnic groups converged in Xinjiang.

Interesting Landscape - the rock formation in the foreground is a result of wind erosion

Fire Wall Mountain -- Poor little camel waiting for tourists...

Uighur performers dancing for Han tourists under grapevines. Xinjiang is known for its raisins. Someone once told me that some Uighurs would travel to prodominantly Han areas and sell raisins. I felt really bad after hearing that -- raisins are cheap even in upscale Chinese supermarkets -- they must have very difficult lives to travel so far from home just to make a few bucks.

7 comments:

mmjiaxin said...

michael kors handbags
tiffany & co
michael kors outlet
adidas nmd
louis vuitton handbags
nike polo shirts
tiffany and co
tiffany and co
cheap mlb jerseys
tiffany online
adidas tubular
toms outlet store
chrome hearts online store
oakley vault
nike air huarache
http://www.cheaprealjordans.us.com
adidas neo
roshe run
http://www.jordanretro.uk
nike air huarache
adidas stan smith shoes
http://www.oakleyoutlet-store.com
fitflops clearance
michael kors uk
http://www.kobesneakers.com
huarache shoes
tiffany and co outlet
adidas neo shoes
oakley sunglasses,oakley outlet sunglasses
nfl jerseys
michael kors handbags
air jordan shoes
nike dunks
nfl jerseys
jordan shoes
gg

raybanoutlet001 said...

nike huarache
replica rolex
michael kors outlet store
raiders jerseys
omega watches
omega watches for sale
michael kors outlet
ray ban sunglasses
boston celtics
nike huarache

Unknown said...

www0718
kate spade outlet
michael kors outlet
links of london
canada goose outlet
fingerlings monkey
bottega veneta outlet
fitflops shoes
uggs outlet
jimmy choo shoes
nobis outlet

Unknown said...

nike air force 1 low
bape hoodie
converse outlet store
air max 90
adidas nmd
adidas tubular x
kobe byrant shoes
oakley
lacoste outlet
asics gel kayano

Unknown said...

www0825

ecco shoes
coach outlet online
canada goose uk
true religion outlet
nike huarache
nike outlet
nike soldes femme
fitflops sale clearance
nhl jerseys
kate spade outlet

Unknown said...

www0926

christian louboutin shoes
louboutin shoes
salomon shoes
north face
coach outlet
pandora outlet
ed hardy uk
valentino shoes
ugg outlet
coach outlet



5689 said...

zzzzz2018.10.16
ugg outlet boots
christian louboutin shoes
bottega veneta

kate spade outlet
off white clothing
moncler outlet
ugg outlet
tory burch outlet
true religion jeans outlet