Xinjiang is a beautiful place, with its northern and southern parts being completely different. Xinjiang occupies one-sixth of China's territory. The advancement of technology and transportation has made it easier than ever to appreciate the breathtaking scenery of this area. However, in my opinion, it would take more than a lifetime for someone to fully appreciate all the beauty of Xinjiang.

Photo shows Vlasovski Yartem poses for a photo with the statue of a goat in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Regardless of its vast territory, Xinjiang is indeed a highly developed region. When I first visited Xinjiang in 2019, I thought it was already a developed area and there wouldn't be anything new anymore. However, this time, I firmly believe that the development of Xinjiang knows no bounds. In just about five years since my first visit, Xinjiang has achieved such remarkable progress. Everything in Urumqi has changed: infrastructure，urban planning, and even the lives of the local people. Through interactions with locals, I realized that whether they are Han Chinese, Uygurs or Kazakhs, they all have great optimism about their future and are willing to contribute everything they can to the development of their hometowns. This deeply moved me.

Although I have been to Xinjiang twice, unfortunately, there are many places that I didn't get a chance to visit during my travels. Prior to this, I had only heard about places like Kanas Lake and the ancient city of Kashi from my friends. However, these were fragmented pieces of knowledge that I could never piece together into a complete picture. Thanks to this trip, I have learned a lot of new information. For example, now I know that in the northern part of Xinjiang there are Altay and Tacheng, and in the southern part there are Aksu, Kashi, Hotan and other places. My friends from Xinjiang and I have already made plans to first go on a 'southern Xinjiang tour' and then proceed with a 'northern Xinjiang tour'. Hopefully our plan can be made true.

Photo shows Vlasovski Yartem overwhelmed by the scenery in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

I not only want to witness the beauty of these places with my own eyes, but also greatly desire to showcase them to others: my family and friends.I really want to take my parents to northern Xinjiang so they can see the natural beauty of Altay, visit Kanas Lake, and explore many other fascinating places. I also want to take them to southern Xinjiang.

Photo shows Vlasovski Yartem attending an event in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

I think, even if I spend my whole life, I won't be able to see all the beautiful scenery in Xinjiang. I hope that in the future, I can personally witness at least half of the beauty of this vast land. Not only do I want to tell others about the beauty of these places, but also take them along with me to see Xinjiang's stunning landscapes, warm and hospitable locals, and various local delicacies.

Vlasovski Yartem is an international student from Russia and currently studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University in China.

Planner : Jie Wenjin

Reviewers : Hou Weili and Cheng Li