An increasing number of people in China's Xinjiang have broken into the cultural sector in recent years. And as they find their way to screens and stages across the country, they're also helping paint a vivid picture of what life is like there. Feng Yilei talks to Aytuna, a Uygur vlogger in Hotan, southern Xinjiang.

Aytunam Ablikim, known as Aytuna on social media, didn't expect her vlogs could bring her some 1.4 million followers.

Two years ago Aytuna began to post self-made videos online – first about horses at a stud-farm where she worked, and then about her everyday life in Xinjiang.

AYTUNAM ABLIKIM Vlogger "I never thought that so many people would care about our daily life – What we think is common, turns out to be really interesting in their eyes."

Aytuna says she prefers to film what's most down-to-earth in her hometown, and answer all kinds of questions from people outside of the region – including about family, eating habits, love, marriage, education and work.

AYTUNAM ABLIKIM Vlogger "I film whatever they want to know. After they watch my videos, they realize that we're a very warm people and our society is very stable, everyone has their own life and job, and you can see smiles on the faces of every stranger."

Aytuna now has about 300-thousand to 400-thousand views a day. She says each click means she's helped one more person to better learn about Xinjiang.

AYTUNAM ABLIKIM Vlogger "Many people chose to work in Xinjiang, or to travel to Xinjiang after watching my video. Honestly, many people used to have stereotypes about Xinjiang. But through the Internet, they get to know the real Xinjiang people – that most of us speak good Mandarin, or even English and other languages."

Aytuna's videos are also gaining popularity overseas. But that's also brought her unexpected trouble. For one, a vlog of her and her mother making a dress at a tailor shop was branded as forced needlework by a senior member of the World Uygur Congress.

AYTUNAM ABLIKIM Vlogger "It made me really angry and I was shocked because the so-called forced labor was with our neighbor next door. The door was open – I was there to buy clothes, they were there to learn techniques – it was incredible that it could be twisted into something like that."

Aytuna believes the best response to these statements is to live her life as it is. She says she'll continue to share the real life moments of a young Uygur woman in Xinjiiang via vlogs and livestreams – And the progress in infrastructure and women's status that she's personally experienced.

AYTUNAM ABLIKIM Vlogger "I doubt whether the Xinjiang they talk about is the same place as I'm living in now. I live a happy life, obviously. And when they insisted that we're suffering from human rights crisis, I was like - Uh? How come?"

Aytuna says she can see more and more Xinjiang residents like her making their voices heard in cyberspace. The voices of these social media influencers, she says – no matter whether it's about travel, food or daily affairs – all contribute to educating the rest of the world about the land she calls home. Feng Yilei, CGTN, Hotan.