For those who are adventurous enough to travel the beautiful Karakoram Highway near Kashgar in Xinjiang, the city of Tashkurgan is the proverbial “icing on the cake”.

Populated primarily by about 30,000 Tajik ethnic people, the town is situated high in the Pamir mountains along the border crossing between China and Pakistan. What used to be traveled by a few brave Silk Road merchants thousands of years ago is now traveled by only a few brave adventurers.

Although the official spelling is Taxkorgan, you’ll also see it occasionally referred to as Tashkorgan or Tashkurghan. The Chinese version is 塔什库尔干镇 (pronounced Tǎshíkù’ěrgān Zhèn).

What to See in Tashkurgan

Read more about the Karakoram Highway…

Is it worth the hours of driving to visit Tashkurgan? First of all, it’s worth noting that the hours of driving to get from Kashgar to Tashkurgan represent no ordinary trip. It’s all part of the Karakoram Highway that offers stunning scenery and unbelievable vistas you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

Tashkurgan represents the end of this magnificent journey unless you have arranged for a Pakistan visa to continue travel. It’s possible to stay the night here (see travel tips below), but there are a few things to see around the city while you’re here.

Khunjerab Pass

The Khunjerab is known as the highest paved international border crossing in the world. It was officially completed in 1982 and has been measured at an elevation of 4,693 meters.

The high elevation also means that it is often covered with snow. During the winter months this can be treacherous and the pass is usually closed between November and March. Throughout the rest of the year, however, if you have arranged for a visa prior to arrival (you can’t do so at the pass), it is possible to cross the border as a tourist.

The best photo opportunities here are at the massive stone gate that marks the passage between Pakistan and China as well as the mile markers and signs – examples of which you can see below:

Photo credit: Mamahoohooba

Photo credit: l_joo

Tashkurgan Stone City

Photo credit: aussieontheroad

Probably one of the most famous and fascinating destinations in Tashkurgan is the ancient Stone Castle, also referred to as the Stone Fort.

This area has a 2,000 year history as a major caravan stop along the Silk Road and was the capital of various kingdoms. During this time it served to control these caravan routes and provide refuge for the merchants.

Now, for a mere 20 RMB, tourist can climb up the fort and view the beautiful scenery from one of the four watchtowers. From here you’ll be amazed by the breathtaking views of the mountains and grasslands that stretch out as far as the eye can see.

Over the past few years, new wooden pathways have been constructed to allow tourist to walk these beautiful grasslands, known as the Golden Grasslands. From here you can get even better photos of the Stone Fort.

Photo credit: aussieontheroad

The Tashkurgan Museum

Finally, if you have the time and feel so inclined, you can also check out the small Tashkurgan Museum. It doesn’t have much, but there are a few local artifacts and beautiful photographic displays.

The big draw, however, are the two mummies they have in the basement. The woman and baby were discovered in a nearby valley and are now the pride of the museum.

Photo credit: orexca

Tips for Travel to Tashkurgan

If you’re planning on taking a trip up to Tashkurgan, here are a few tips of things you should know:

• Special Permit: It is usually required that all tourist need to either travel with a tourist group or get a special tourist permit to travel along the Karakoram Highway to Tashkurgan. You can get this permit at most travel agencies in Kashgar.
  
• Entrance Fees: Be prepared to pay small entrance fees for most places you visit. Depending on the time of year, this can range from 20 RMB to 50RMB.
• Transportation: Unless you’re going with a tourist group, your only other options are a bus from Kashgar or a private car (taxi). I recommend the taxi just because you’ll have more freedom to tour around the area on your own.
• Hotels: You don’t have to stay the night in Tashkurgan (stay in a yurt at Karakul Lake instead!), but if you must, the best place is the Crown Inn (relatively expensive but foreign-owned with great tourist help).

The post Visiting Tashkurgan, Xinjiang – Crown of the Karakoram appeared first on Xinjiang: Far West China.

For everybody that provided input on the changes, I appreciate your input! The design was done by Anna Bryant, a friend who did an incredible job in my opinion and was implemented by Caleb White.

It may take some getting used to for many of you who favor the old design, but there’s a reason behind the changes. First of all, I needed to clean up all the clutter on the homepage.

I wanted to make it very clear to those first visiting FarWestChina.com that I desire it to be a resource to three different needs:

• Those who want to travel to Xinjiang
• Those who want to move to and work in Xinjiang
• Those who are just doing research on Xinjiang

A Comprehensive Xinjiang Travel Resource

In the Xinjiang travel section we worked to answer most of the questions that I get in my inbox every week. I’ve updated some of the hotel pages (for example, the page for Urumqi hotels) and made a lot of the valuable content more available to those who need it.

And here’s my favorite piece: I’ve added city guides that I’m incredibly excited about! Currently I only have pages set up for Urumqi, Kashgar and Turpan, but that is currently being expanded to other cities. The content is also a work-in-progress but I’m happy enough with it at this point to share it with you.

What do you think? I want to make this as useful as possible for anybody traveling to Xinjiang, so if you see something you think should be change or think of something that’s missing, either share a comment below or contact me personally.

Moving and Researching Xinjiang

Moving to Xinjiang: As Xinjiang continues to grow in popularity as a tourist destination in China, it is also growing in popularity for those who want an exciting change of scenery. The number of people who email me asking about working in Xinjiang is often more than I can respond to.

I’m still collecting a lot of information and data to be added to this section, but my dream is to eventually have a job board and the ability to connect people with quality employment in the region. The need is there, people on both sides just don’t know how to connect.

Researching Xinjiang: I don’t consider myself a Xinjiang scholar, but I do believe that I have a lot to contribute to those who are studying the province. This section of the website is currently still under construction (so I won’t link to it from here yet), but I hope to provide valuable content as well as links out to even more valuable content.

If you’re a student who has done research on Xinjiang or somebody with an interest in the history of the region, I could definitely use help here. If you’re interested, please contact me and we’ll see how we can make this a mutually-beneficial venture.

Resources Page: If you’re interested, the site now has a beautiful new resources page that offers my suggestions on what you need to bring and read for your visit/move to Xinjiang.

Whether you’ve been reading FarWestChina for the past few years or you’re brand new to the site, please know that this is a labor of love that currently provides very little income for my family.

But don’t worry…I’m not begging for money! If you’re willing, I could use your help in one of three simple ways (or all three!):

• Link to the FarWestChina travel page (link: http://www.farwestchina.com/travel) using a phrase like “travel to Xinjiang”, “Xinjiang travel” or “Silk Road travel”
• Twitter or Facebook: Something as simple as a quick tweet about FarWestChina or a share on Facebook is super-valuable to me.
• Google+: I’m a novice when it comes to Google+, I admit. If you’d like to +1 the FarWestChina page, that would be super helpful.

A huge thank you to everybody who helps out and I appreciate the great support I always get from the FarWestChina readers.

The post A New Design for FarWestChina.com appeared first on Xinjiang: Far West China.

Stereotypes are present in every culture (yes, even still now in China) and often we seem to cling to them for the simple sake of nostalgia. Take, for instance, the idea of a beautiful Uyghur woman dancing, accompanied by the  rhythmic thumping of the dap and the rapid strumming of the rawap. Is this Uyghur music?

That’s the idea being challenged by a new documentary named The Silk Road of Pop. It’s a fascinating look at – as the video description says – “age-old roots of the Uyghur music culture in Kashgar, metal bands combining local folk music & Western hard rock in their wild performances, and hip-hop crews honing their skills in the smoky basements of communist block towers.”

I had the opportunity to watch the documentary in its entirety and interview the documentary’s director but before we dive into that, spend a few minutes watching the short trailer for The Silk Road of Pop.

An Interview with the Director

I had the opportunity to swap emails with Sameer Farooq, the director of The Silk Road of Pop and ask him a few questions about his take on Uyghur music and the making of the documentary.

Josh: How were you first introduced to Xinjiang’s modern music scene? 

Traditional Uyghur Music

Sameer: Our team visited Xinjiang for the first time about 6 years ago on a break from working on our last film I Want to Grow Old in China. We were immediately struck by the vast differences in the Xinjiang Province as compared to other places we travelled in China. One afternoon we popped into one of Ghulja’s (Yining) many CD stores and ended up spending the entire afternoon speaking to the 2 sisters who owned the shop. They enthusiastically played CD after CD of local Uyghur music and we were suddenly pulled into the robust and diverse music scene.

After that experience we started to notice the unusual amount of music stores in the city, and we began to question why music was produced in such a large proportion in the area. Our first trip and subsequent research and production trips were filled with live performances in independent music venues and restaurants. It was overwhelming and exciting.

Using music as an arena to understand the deeper tensions and dynamics among the Uyghur people in the Xinjiang Province quickly became the subject of our next documentary. Most importantly, we wanted to learn how young musicians were creatively dealing with the environment they were born into.

Josh: What (other than Uyghur music) captured you about the Xinjiang and the Silk Road?

Using music as an arena to understand the deeper tensions…among the Uyghur…

Sameer: The Xinjiang Province is fascinating for many reasons. The landscape alone is vast and inspiring presenting a variety of ecosystems within a single province, from snow-capped mountains to low lying deserts.

As a film team, it was motivating to try to capture the diversity of this environment and draw connections with how it affected the ways in which people lived and played music. Culturally, being involved with the Uyghur community was unique and powerful.

As a Muslim director it is very exciting to see the plurality of expressions in Islam — to draw connections and see unique differences. And, of course, along with the diversity of music came a diversity of other cultural forms (visual art, performance, etc.). It was exciting to see this place, sitting on the Silk Road (one of the original currents of globalization and cultural exchange), pulling in so many cultural influences and weaving them into their own.

Josh: Do you believe that Uyghur music will play a role in the dissolving of ethnic tension in Xinjiang? And if so, how?

Sameer: I do not think music alone will dissolve ethnic tensions in Xinjiang, but we do feel as though it can contribute. It was promising to see how young people from a diversity of backgrounds were putting the politics aside and coming together to simply play music. It was not uncommon to come across groups who were comprised of Uyghur, Han, Manzu, Russian, Mongolian (…) members, and this was also reflected in a diversity of audiences being present at rock and hip hop shows we attended. So, in this way, it was very encouraging to see the younger generation using music as an important tool to bridge some difficult divides.

Six City, a well-known Uyghur rap group in Xinjiang

Josh: In your experience, is this Uyghur music scene allowed by the Chinese government or does it have to be kept mostly underground?

Sameer: It appeared to us that the music scene was very elastic. During the times we were working in the Xinjiang Province, large-scale public music performances were not permitted by the government, though the definition of ‘large-scale’ seemed to be quite open to interpretation. It also seemed that a lot was decided on a case-by-case basis, depending on your relationships with officials or how famous you were as a musician.

Our focus was more on the younger/underground scene. In this case, we saw a large “do-it-yourself” spirit, with groups coming together, raising money, and organizing a venue for a rock show. There are also multiple platforms for music to be played that many musicians we were working with were navigating. Many earned a living by playing on stages in restaurants, there are many large dance halls with live performances, there is a robust CD market, and of course, on the internet (though internet back-outs have been known to happen in the region).

Josh: What is your top goal to accomplish when people view The Silk Road of Pop?

Sameer: I want people to feel a similar curiosity and fascination for the region, the people who inhabit it, and the unique cultural forms that come out of the Xinjiang Province among the Uyghur people.

I want people to feel a similar curiosity and fascination for the region…

We hope our film touches upon the challenges of what it means to be young and Uyghur in the Xinjiang Province, and how that is expressed in the nature and amount of music produced.

We had simply not seen a music scene as passionate and robust as this, and tried to draw parallels between historic and contemporary music production, showing how this functions as affirming a strong and resilient Uyghur identity. At the same time, we wanted to show a universality of being young and the challenges that many young people, irrespective or place, experience.

Finally, as I expressed to you above our goal is to help contextualize this incredible region. This way, when there are challenges expressed in the news, people will understand where Xinjiang is and why it is important to take note of what is happening there.

Additional Links

If this documentary on Uyghur music interests you, check out a few of these other links:

• Silk Road of Pop Facebook Page
• A Writeup by the Washington Post
• Homepage for Smoke Signal Projects

The post Silk Road of Pop: A Look at Modern Uyghur Music appeared first on Xinjiang: Far West China.

Urumqi to Beijing in 12 hours. Urumqi to Shanghai in less than 20 hours. Average speed of 350 km/hr (220 mph). An investment of 143 billion yuan. This is the new Urumqi high speed rail station.

It’s the world’s longest high-speed rail line and it is expected to open as early as 2015. This has the potential to completely change the face of Xinjiang travel and commerce.

Consider this: it was only a century ago that such a journey by famous European explorers was measured in months, not hours.

The New Urumqi Train Station

In order to accommodate this new influx of high-speed traffic, Urumqi – the capital of the Xinjiang province – is building a completely new train station.

The old Urumqi train station will still exist to service the slower trains but all high-speed trains will follow the tracks to the new station. Ground was broken in April of 2013 in the Shayibake (沙依巴克区) district of Urumqi with the expectation that work will be completed by the end of 2014. What used to be acres of farming fields will be turned into a modern business district.

In relation to the old station, the new Urumqi high speed rail station will be built less than 10 kilometers to the north west near the intersection of Suzhou Road and the Outer Ring road (see map of the approximate location here).

Artistic renderings of the inside of the new station show an enormous open general area with high ceilings and plenty of seating (at least until Spring Festival). Entrance to the station looks to be available both on the north and south ends.

Currently the area is already undergoing a massive building spree in preparation for the new station. The rising industrial park will include commercial buildings, government buildings and plenty of residential space. (See here for more construction photos)

Lanzhou-Urumqi High Speed Railway

In 2009, construction began on a double rail high-speed railway link between Lanzhou and Urumqi. While much of it will run parallel to the current line, it will actually detour through Xining in the Qinghai province instead of following all the way through Gansu. In total it will run 1,776 km through three different provinces.

It is expected that there will be 31 stations along the line, including all the major tourist stops like Dunhuang, Hami, and Turpan. If current high-speed train prices are any indication, the cost of a 1st class ticket from Urumqi to Beijing could equal the cost of an airline ticket.

Additional Concept Photos

Below are a few concept photos and artist renderings of the new Urumqi high speed rail station.

The post Sneak Peek at Urumqi’s New High-Speed Rail Station appeared first on Xinjiang: Far West China.

So why visit Turpan?

I mean, let’s be honest: Turpan (also known as Tulufan in Chinese) is one of the lowest points in the world, so it’s insanely hot during the summer! Who in their right mind would brave extreme heat just to see a few old cities?

Well, I did. And many others have done the same and been glad they went. Here are a few good reasons why.

Fascinating Historical Significance

Nowhere else along the Silk Road is there such a concentration of historically significant sites! In fact, people have been inhabiting the Turpan Basin for more than 2 millenium according to archaeological and written record.

The best places to see this history in person are at the ancient Gaochang Ruins and the spectacular Jiaohe Ruins. Both cities were once grand capitals of a forgotten kingdom that collapsed many centuries ago.

Best of all, both of these ruins along with many other historical sites, are within only a 20-30 minute drive!

A Dive into Uyghur Culture

If you stay in the south part of town, there’s no escaping the Uyghur culture that you’ll be immersed in. Ever since the 14th century this area has been predominantly populated by the Uyghur ethnic group.

One of my favorite places to hang out in the cool evenings was the night market, an area where vendors cook lamb kebabs over a grill and noodles are prepared in abundance. People come out for a good time and stay late into the evening drinking beer and laughing.

It’s also a ton of fun to take a walk west of town into the Uyghur neighborhoods. It’s a blast to check out the beautiful Turpan Mosque and take pictures of the well-decorated doors. People are often sitting outside and more than willing to engage with you.

The Night Market

So I mentioned the famous Night Market above, but it bears repeating. You have to visit!

Xinjiang offers such an excellent variety of food that are all on display at the night market. Some of it may not look so appetizing (like the sheep entrails…uggh!) but the majority will have your mouth watering like crazy.

If you don’t believe me, check out a few of these examples of food that you’ll find well-cooked and well-priced at the Turpan Night Market:

• DaPanJi: A huge plate of chicken, potatoes and peppers swimming in a delightfully spicy red sauce.
• Pollo (or “Pilaf”): A traditional Central Asian cuisine with a Uyghur flair. Savory lamb over tasty rice.
• Uyghur Flat Bread: Offered in a variety of styles, it’s a perfect compliment to kebabs or Dapanji.
• Laghman Noodles: A Uyghur noodle dish topped with vegetables and optional meat.

Amazing Architectural Feats

Turpan is well-known for their irrigation system, known as karez. These underground water channels meant to transfer snow melt to the dry desert farms were built hundreds of years ago before major digging equipment was available to help.

It was explained to me this way: if all of the karez in Turpan were put end to end, it would run all the way to Beijing! That’s simply incredible!

The karez are not the only beautiful example of architecture. I also loved checking out the Emin Minaret, one of Turpan’s most famous tourist sites.

Take a close look at the brickwork on the minaret that stands majestically pointing toward the sky. These are not accidental patterns and somehow they have stood the test of centuries to remain a beautiful piece of Uyghur artwork.

Top Notch Museum

It used to be that the Turpan Museum was housed in a run-down building probably built in the 60′s. Not so anymore.

The new Turpan Museum opened in 2009 and is the second-largest museum in all of Xinjiang (second to the Urumqi museum). Taking advantage of the many historical sites that surround Turpan, the museum is full of fascinating artifacts that cover pretty much every time period.

The highlight of the museum, however, are the mummies. Dug out of the Astana tombs of the ancient kings and queens, these mummies have been remarkably preserved by the dry heat of Turpan weather.

The museum is within walking distance of the most popular Turpan hotels and here’s the best news – it’s free!

Experience the Healing Powers of Sand

If you’re the type of person who enjoys trying the stuff that most people either avoid or just ignore, you’re going to love this.

One of Turpan’s biggest attractions is known as Sand Therapy. It is believed that sand offers certain healing powers due to the magnetic properties found in a particular sand dune near town.

People come here and bury themselves in the sand for hours on end, sitting under the shade of an umbrella or a towel. It may be over 100 degrees outside, but they’ll still be laying there drinking hot tea!

So if you have any ailments or diseases…go see a doctor! And then if that doesn’t work, go bury yourself in the Turpan Sand. :)

The post Why You Should Visit Turpan, Xinjiang appeared first on Xinjiang: Far West China.

In the hopes of making things as easy for you – the traveler – as possible, below I’ve tried to answer the top 4 question I receive about Urumqi flights in Xinjiang. If you have any additional questions, please put them in the comments section and I’ll keep this updated.

1. Which Urumqi Airport Terminal Do I Use?

The Urumqi International Airport is currently divided into three different terminals which are creatively named “T1″, “T2″ and “T3″. You can disregard Terminal 1 since it doesn’t accommodate any passenger flights, which leaves us only with Terminal 2 and Terminal 3.

Urumqi Airport TERMINAL 3

Urumqi’s Terminal 3 was opened back in 2010 and is the newest wing of the airport. Known for it’s “eagle’s wings” rooftop, it boasts a modern design and supposedly faster passenger check-in.

If you happen to be hungry, it also has the airport’s only overpriced KFC – which doesn’t sound great unless you compare it to T2′s “Best Food Burger” option. So I guess what I’m trying to say is…bring your own food.

There aren’t many duty free options if you’re flying international out of Urumqi. They have a perfume shop, a cigarette shop and a liquor shop, but they’re really not worth stopping by.

**You should use Terminal 3 if you are flying on China Southern. All other airlines fly out of Terminal 2.

Urumqi Airport TERMINAL 2

Urumqi’s Terminal 2 used to be the primary terminal prior to the T3 opening. It’s old, but it still functions well.

There aren’t that many food and drink options in Terminal 2, with the aforementioned Best Food Burger available before you enter the gate area. Past the security checkpoint there are a couple places to sit down and order tea or buy some last-minute, overpriced souvenirs, but that’s all.

**You should use Terminal 2 if you are flying any other airline besides China Southern.

2. Where can I fly to/from Urumqi airport?

Check out the Urumqi City Guide

Urumqi has become a major hub for travel not just within Xinjiang but also internationally. Considering it’s strategic location there’s no doubt that will continue to grow.

For simplicity sake, I’ll break out your flight options as either within Xinjiang, within China or internationally.

WITHIN XINJIANG

There are a total of 17 airports in Xinjiang, including the Urumqi International Airport (the Fuyun airport sometimes listed as Xinjiang’s 18th airport closed down in 1994). Although flights might not be available every day, Urumqi services all airports in the province.

*Shihezi airport is being moved and is expected to reopen in 2014.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

International flights to and from Urumqi have increased over the past few years, a reflection of the increased importance of Urumqi’s central location.

For those who are making Xinjiang a stop on their round-the-world adventures, here is a quick list of all the international destinations that Urumqi serves.

*Other smaller international are serviced on occasion, but these are the major ones.

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS

Instead of listing them all here, just know that Urumqi International Airport is serviced by every major airport in China and a few smaller ones as well.

3. Where do I Purchase Urumqi Airport Flight Tickets?

There are three primary ways that you can purchase tickets for flights to Urumqi but I’ll go ahead and tell you now that the best way is from the comfort of your computer. Thankfully it’s easy!

Here are all three options:

• At the Airport: ticket counters at the airport will sell you tickets on the spot, although I highly discourage this since you will have to pay full price for these tickets. They’re never discounted.
  
• Local Travel Agent: from within Xinjiang you can easily buy tickets at the many local travel agencies. They can often get you discount that are equal to or greater than what you can find online. There’s only one catch: 95% of these agencies only accept cash! It’s a great option if you want to avoid bank fees, though.
• Purchase Tickets Online: By far the easiest and most accepted way to purchase flight tickets in Xinjiang is online. The two most popular sites are eLong.net and Ctrip.com. I recommend either since they both offer English versions of their sites and accept all major credit cards.

4. Is there transportation to/from the Urumqi Airport?

The most nerve-wracking part of arriving in a new city is getting from the airport to your hotel. I don’t know about you, but I’m always on high alert for getting ripped off, especially when I arrive at night.

When you exit the baggage claim area in both Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, you’ll find a line of taxis that are a common way to get into the city. As long as you always take a certified taxi (it has a meter) and they drop the flag on the meter, you’ll be fine. Expect to pay between 30-50 RMB depending on where you’re going.

Another option is to take the shuttle. They have a couple, some of which go to the city center while others go to the train station, all with stops in between. There is a desk right before you exit the doors, so be prepared with the name of your hotel and show the clerk. They’ll let you know if they can take you there. By doing this, you’ll save yourself some money, as the average shuttle costs less than 20 RMB.

The post A Guide: Traveling to the Urumqi Airport appeared first on Xinjiang: Far West China.

At least, that’s my theory when it comes to Uyghur homes in Xinjiang, China. It’s for that reason (I believe) that the locals in almost every town along the ancient Silk Road put a lot of time and thought into their doors.

That’s right. Their doors.

Perhaps you’ve noticed it during your own travels to Xinjiang, but I’ll admit that their beauty completely escaped me for the first couple years I traveled the region. But once I noticed one, I couldn’t stop looking for cool doors.

Below is a mix of my favorite Xinjiang doors that I ran across in Turpan, Kashgar, Urumqi…and pretty much anywhere else in Xinjiang.

 A door in Turpan within the Emin Minaret complex

My favorite door of all time in Turpan’s Tuyoq Valley

A door in the Uyghur part of Turpan city proper

Another Turpan door. Can’t you tell from the painting?

An open door in Kashgar. Beautiful woodwork!

Nothing special, but this door in Kashgar’s Old City actually had nothing behind it. So why the padlock?

Not the greatest photo, but I love the doors to Kazakh yurts!

The post Doors of Xinjiang: Photo Journal appeared first on Xinjiang: Far West China.

Xinjiang is known for some crazy things, but only one odd fact has landed the Chinese province in the Guinness Book of World Records: Xinjiang, China is home to the geographic center of Asia. It’s the point furthest from the sea than anywhere else in the world.

Think about that for a moment. Xinjiang – a land that China is investing millions over the next decade to become an Asian trade hub – is further from a sea port than any other location in the world.

To commemorate this achievement, a monument park has been erected 25 kilometers southeast of the Xinjiang capital of Urumqi. Two questions come to mind:

 1. Is it really the center of Asia?
2. Is it worth a visit?

Photo credit: Confluence.org

Where EXACTLY is the Center of Asia?

The exact geographic center of Asia has been debated for quite some time, but somehow Chinese cartographers conveniently decided that it should be located not far from Urumqi where they quickly built a tourist attraction.

The official coordinates, as officially measured by the Chinese in 1992, is 43° 40′ 50″ North, 87° 19′ 52″ East.

Translated into English: about 30 minutes by car from Urumqi.

Of course, such a prestigious title like “Center of Asia” doesn’t come without contest. Kyzyl, in Russia, also claims to be the center of Asia.

Funny little fact: prior to the building of this monument park by the Chinese government in the late 1990′s, the geographic location was marked only by a 2 meter tall wooden stake.

In order to construct the monument park, the village that was originally situated on the land was actually relocated a kilometer away. Each house was torn down and a new one was constructed just for the sake of this geographic measurement!

Visiting the Centre of Asia

Have you taken a picture standing over an imaginary line between two countries? Are you a sucker for things like the Four Corners Monument in the United States?

If that’s you, you might enjoy visiting the Center of Asia monument park!

Most people stop here on their way down to NanShan, the beautiful grasslands south of Urumqi. It’s not far off the G216 highway and you won’t be able to miss the funky gate that welcomes you as you enter.

The wing-like entrance gate to the Center of Asia

Once you enter, though, don’t expect too much more than a simple monument pointing to a specific spot. That’s it.

Here you can take your picture next to (or under!) a 22-meter high fixture with a golden globe on top. The circle surrounding the tower boasts a relief of all Asian flags as well as a map of the Asian continent.

If you have the extra time, make the quick stop. At the very least it will be one of those things where you can say to your friends and family when you get home “I stood in the center of Asia!” Not many people can say that, you know.

Each country of Asia represented. Photo by Confluence.org

Travel Tips to the Center of Asia

The most simple way to get to the Center of Asia monument is by taxi car or with a tour group. Costs will vary based on the season, but most often this trip will be combined with a visit to NanShan or Urumqi’s Number 1 Glacier.

• Entrance Fee: 30 RMB
• Chinese Name: 亚洲大陆地理中心 (Yàzhōu dàlùdì lĭzhōngxīn)
• Best Time to Visit: If you happen to be in the area in August, check around to see if the annual parachuting event is happening (usually mid-August). It might be worth hanging around to soak in the festivities!

The post Center of Asia: The Furthest Point from Any Ocean appeared first on Xinjiang: Far West China.

On the cover, as you can see here, a Hui man labeled as a “Citizen of Sinkiang” stares at the reader with a youthful expression of confidence and curiosity. Forget World War II…what they heck does LIFE have to say about the far reaches of China?

Written by Theodore H. White and beautifully photographed by William Vandivert, LIFE claims this expedition in the 1940′s to be “The first accurate report on this mysterious land, since Owen Lattimore in 1927“.

Besides offering a visual history of the people and places of interest in Xinjiang (which is referred to in this magazine by its former English name ‘Sinkiang’), what struck me most were some of the ways in which the region was described.

Bathed in Blood

“Every now and then (1870, 1932) [the Chinese] have to contend with a rebellion of the Moslem masses, usually led by Chinese-speaking Moslem [now called the "Hui"]. These rebellions periodically bathe Sinkiang in blood. The massacres, though generally unreported, are spectacular.”

White actually spends little time dwelling on these massacres, but rather focuses on the “litter of races” that has been the cause. It’s interesting to see how he describes each ethnic group that he runs across, primarily because it is different from how many would describe them today:

• Kirghiz: “They are shepherds of upland pastures, are an attractive and civilized people”
• Tartars: “They have high social rating, many are rich”
• Kazaks: “They are nomads and bandits and consume huge quantities of kumiss liquor”
• Uzbeks: “…are as exclusive as the Tartars”
• White Russians: “They are mostly peasants and laborers but include some clerks”
• Chinese: ”Sinkiang’s merchant and ruling class…most Chinese are refugees from Manchuria”
• Uighur: “[They] are the chief landowners. They have been here since year 800″

The Chinese, White Russian and Uzbek women of Xinjiang

The Kirghiz, Tartar and Kazakh men of Xinjiang

During their visit in the 1940′s, the total population of Xinjiang was only 3,700,000. Of this number, 2,700,00 of them were Uyghur while only 182,000 were Chinese.

To compare, the latest census shows that Xinjiang is home to nearly 22 million people and is split almost 50/50 between the Uyghur and Han Chinese.

Chinese from Lost Manchuria

It is noted in the LIFE article that Xinjiang’s leaders were “nearly all Manchurian Chinese” and that “most of the officials today were officers in the forgotten Manchurian army of 10,000 men who retreated before the Japanese invasion”.

Xinjiang’s governor at the time was Governor Sheng (pictured to the right), who was known for implementing free education in native languages and a policy of equality between races.

According to James Millward in his book Eurasian Crossroads: A History of Xinjiang, Governor Sheng’s tenure as governor was “the first time ‘Uyghur’ entered official and common use to apply to the Turki-speaking, non-nomad population of southern Xinjiang”.

Other Fascinating Quotes:

“Sinjiang is the cheapest province in China”

“Sinkiang is famed for low taxes and honest tax collectors”

“[Sinkiang's] trade has died”

“The big news about Sinkinag is that the U.S.S.R. has now given it back to China”

“[Uyghur] dancing consists more of handwork and head-weaving than of foot-work”

“There is just one steam roller [for construction] in all of Xinjiang”

A Uyghur dancer as pictured by Vandivert

Called a “Moslem Cemetery near Aksu”, I can’t place where this is. Perhaps it has decayed or been destroyed over time.

A government officials meeting in Korla, held every Monday morning.

A Uyghur man digging irrigation ditches

The post A View of “Sinkiang” in 1943 from Life Magazine appeared first on Xinjiang: Far West China.

What this has meant for me and my wife is multiple invitations to weddings, meals and family get-togethers. Mind you this isn’t just our friends – it’s strangers making these requests as well.

If you’re going to spend any amount of time in Xinjiang you’ll likely receive a similar invitation. While the Central Asian culture is very forgiving to foreigners who don’t quite know proper etiquette, this is an opportunity for you to impress your Uyghur and Kazakh host by respecting their culture.

Take this quick lesson on Central Asian etiquette and you’ll be ready for any situation you face in Xinjiang.

Visiting a Uyghur Home

It’s such a privilege to enter into a Uyghur home. Whether entering a wealthy, modern home or a modest one, the general rules of etiquette remain the same for most Uyghur.

If the family is expecting your visit (and sometimes even if they aren’t!), you’ll probably find a table with a spread that looks fit for a king.

• Entering the Home: I’m not sure if this is an ancient practice or not, but with every household I entered I took off my shoes. Watch what your host is doing and follow suit. Handshakes and hugs are common among both men and women, but for men dealing with a woman always allow her to initiate contact to be safe.
• Washing Your Hands: Although not always the case in modern homes, be prepared to wash your hands prior to eating. The custom is to wash three times, allowing the host to pour water over your hands into a basin. Do not shake your hands to dry, but rather let them drip and lightly dry them with the offered towel.
• Eating with Your Hands: Once seated around the table (cross-legged if on the floor), you’ll probably find that eating with your hands is quite possibly acceptable, if not preferred. Most food is bite size, but in the cases where it is not (Uyghur bread for example), break it up into pieces to eat instead of biting off a piece.
• Drinking Tea: Tea is most likely the beverage you will be offered. When drinking, it is best to use both hands to bring the cup up to your mouth instead of one. It’s not really offensive if you don’t, but it looks weird.
• Completing the Meal: Finishing your plate of food indicates that you are still hungry (this actually goes for most of China and Central Asia, I think!). If you are getting full, leave some food on your plate. It won’t stop your host from offering you tons more food, but hopefully it will slow them down!

Visiting a Kazakh Yurt

When making your way along the border lands of western Xinjiang, you’ll likely run across many yurts dotting the grasslands (What is a yurt?).

Whether you pay to enter a yurt or are lucky enough to get an invitation from a local, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Watch Your Step: When first entering the yurt through the wooden door, avoid stepping on the threshold.
  
• Greeting: Shaking hands is common, as is kissing on the cheek for friends. For a man greeting a woman, you should probably nod and let the woman initiate any contact just to be safe. Women should follow the lead of any other women or just do what’s comfortable.
• Meal Time: Wait to be seated inside the yurt. It’s best to allow the head of the family to direct seating, eating and all toasting.
  
• Cleaning Up: It’s not rude to offer to help wash dishes and clean, but be prepared to insist hard if you really mean it. They probably won’t let you!

Eating in a Uyghur Restaurant

The etiquette for eating at a Uyghur restaurant really isn’t that much different than any other restaurant in China and Central Asia. Still there area  few things that you should keep in mind.

• Pay Before You Eat: Many Uyghur restaurants require you to pay up front when you order your food. This is common, so don’t think they’re trying to scam you.
  
• Eating with Your Hands: Eating with your hands is less common in a Uyghur restaurant (as opposed to in a home). Usually spoons and chopsticks are offered at the table.

Participating in Religious Activities

When it comes to prayers, visits to the mosque and religious festivals, be prepared for what seems like contradicting standards.

Because tourism plays such a big role in certain cities, any ignorance on your part won’t be offensive to the locals even though you may be politely corrected.

• Entering a Mosque: Many mosques in Urumqi and throughout Xinjiang are open to the public for a fee, even to those who aren’t Muslim. My wife would cover her head (not completely) out of respect even though we were never explicitly asked to. In the prayer halls, you’ll be asked to take off your shoes to walk around.
• Religious Festivals: If you’re invited to join a family in celebrating one of their festivals, such as Corban Festival or Ramadan, do it! It’s an unforgettable experience, trust me. It’s perfectly acceptable for you to take part, just be mindful of what others are doing and you’ll be fine.

So there you go! This should be a good starting point for any cross-cultural interactions you have in Xinjiang. Would you add anything else?

The post A Lesson on Central Asian Etiquette for Uyghur and Kazakh appeared first on Xinjiang: Far West China.