Международные делегаты изучают историю и современное развитие региона Синьцзян

Delegates from a dozen countries gathered in Urumqi on June 10 for a weeklong program that brought international journalists, scholars and cultural figures face to face with one of the world's most discussed — and often misunderstood — regions. Through visits to factories, cultural heritage sites and local communities, the program offered participants a firsthand view of Xinjiang's economic development, cultural diversity and everyday life. Over seven days, participants traveled from Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, to the Jiaohe Ancient City Ruins in Turpan and the border city of Tacheng, tracing a route that shows how development, diversity and stability unfold in western China. Set against the northern rim of the Tianshan Mountains, Urumqi grew from an ancient garrison and market town into the administrative heart of Xinjiang, a role that has long drawn people from various ethnic groups into the city. Today its streets reflect that layering: Uygur, Kazak and Hui restaurants sit beside national hotpot chains; mosques share districts with office towers; and shop signs switch between Chinese characters and Uygur script. This mix makes Urumqi feel at once like a typical Chinese inland metropolis, as well as a gateway to Central Asia. Conversations slip between languages. Old alleys merge with modern expressways. It is a place of change. A view of the skyline of Urumqi in Xinjiang, June 12, 2026. [Photo by Tudor Finneran/China.org.cn] The formal agenda began on June 11 with an exhibition in Urumqi highlighting Xinjiang's initiatives in social development and counterterrorism. It offered participants insight into the scale of the terrorist threat the region once faced. Most international attendees were familiar with one or two high-profile incidents, but the exhibition documented dozens of brutal and deliberate acts of violence, including hackings, beheadings and other attacks. A central takeaway for many was the effort by local authorities to integrate modernization with the preservation of ethnic traditions while maintaining stability. Notably, Xinjiang has not seen a single terror attack for many years. In the evening, delegates visited a lively bazaar, where stalls smoked grilled lamb and offered the region's famed milk tea. The next stop was Turpan, an ancient oasis city on the Silk Road. In the evening, delegates undertook a night tour of Jiaohe, a 2,000 year old earthen city set upon a plateau between two rivers. The city was ultimately abandoned around the 14th century with the collapse of the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368). Today, the ruins are open to the public and open-air performances are staged. Turpan itself lies in a sunbaked basin, one of the hottest inhabited places in China, yet it has long served as an oasis on the Silk Road where traders rested, exchanged goods and refilled water before crossing the deserts. The ruined city of Jiaohe shows how people adapted: Houses, temples and walls were carved directly from loess, and its position offered strategic visibility and some protection from floods. Walking the boardwalks at night, with performance lights playing over 2,000‑year‑old foundations, you see that Turpan's "desert ruins" were once a carefully engineered response to living on the margins. Local musicians give an evening performance at an earthen stage at the 2,000 year old Ruins of Jiaohe in Turpan, Xinjiang, June 12, 2026. [Photo by Tudor Finneran/China.org.cn] The following day further revealed how people have adapted to life in this part of Xinjiang. The karez irrigation system, sometimes called the "Underground Great Wall," is one of Turpan's most remarkable responses to the harsh climate. Multiple generations of farmers carved an underground lattice of vertical shafts and sloping tunnels stretching from the foothills of distant mountains into the basin, allowing meltwater to flow downhill under the scorching surface. By keeping the channels below ground, they reduced evaporation, shielded water from sandstorms and made maintenance easier. At its peak, the Turpan area had over 1,200 separate karez systems with a combined tunnel length of more than 3,400 km. The inside of a karez well at the Turpan Karez Folk Custom Park in Turpan, Xinjiang, June 13, 2026. [Photo by Tudor Finneran/China.org.cn] This marvel of human efforts turned sporadic mountain runoff into a reliable lifeline for vineyards and orchards. Standing inside one of the tunnels which continues to flow, it is easier to understand how a place that feels almost uninhabitable at noon in summer could become famous for grapes, raisins and lush green corridors cutting through bare earth. In recent decades, modern pumps, canals and reservoirs have begun to supplement the old karez network, but many of the principles remain the same: Water is precious, its movement is planned over generations, and entire communities are organized around its arrival. For visitors, this continuity — ancient tunnels still feeding modern vineyards — offers a tangible link to the Silk Road's enduring legacy, while underpinning a tradition of producing some of the world's finest grapes and raisins.