by Cai Xi

Recently, the story of Hu Chunfang, a photographer from Awati Township in Hetian County, Hotan Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has gone viral online. Hu brought a backdrop featuring Tian'anmen Square as the background to rural areas and took free photos for local farmers.

This ordinary yet touching story began with an accidental encounter between Hu Chunfang and a villager in the fields. After accepting Hu's invitation to take a photo, the villager mentioned that it would be even better if he could have the job done with Tian'anmen Square as the background. By coincidence, Hu sensed the common wish buried deep among these villagers who have lived on the edge of the desert for years. With her quick wits and the convenience of online shopping, she customized a backdrop with "Tian'anmen Square" as the background and embarked on a warm journey.

Starting from March 24th, knowing about Hu's plan, local villagers participated in this campaign with unexpected enthusiasm. They voluntarily put on their most beautiful clothes and rushed to make appointments to take photos in front of the "Tian'anmen". Many even brought out their special festival outfits and danced their best-known dances after taking the photo. In just two days, Hu and her colleagues took 238 such special photos. Among them were warm family portraits, newlyweds who had just gotten married, and innocent schoolchildren.

Photo taken on the afternoon of March 24, 2025 shows Ruzetohuti Turhongtuhuti and his family of five in front of the Tian'anmen Square backdrop in Akeqiale Village, Awati Township, Hetian County, Hotan Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo provided by Hu Chunfang)

Once-struggling along the desert fringe, Akeqiale Village, along with other neighboring villages in Awati Township, has seen living standards fundamentally transformed through government-backed poverty alleviation initiatives. By participating in Hu’s photo-taking event, these residents express genuine sentiments towards the state. Even during the busy farming season, the villagers responded with full enthusiasm. Some people, after finishing their farm work, would go home specifically to change into clean clothes before taking the photos. Others rushed over on their electric scooters, their eyes full of anticipation.The people who had their photos taken all felt as if they had received a precious gift. This feeling of happiness and uniqueness spread throughout the entire community.

Hu Chunfang also decided to add a QR code to each photo, so that by scanning it, everyone could obtain their own electronic copy. To achieve this goal, she studied the use of AI tools until four or five o'clock in the morning. Hu's team has now grown to five members. Some are responsible for translating the specific photo-taking requirements of the villagers, some for focusing on the photography equipment, while others focus on perfecting people's dressing and hairstyles. They plan to complete taking 4,000 group photos by the end of June.

"I love Beijing's Tian'anmen, where the sun rises above Tian'anmen," this song that has been passed down through generations holds profound meaning for every Chinese person. But what is even more touching is the "sense of ritual" that the villagers in Xinjiang have towards these particular photos.

Although the backdrop of the group photos is not real, the love in their hearts is sincere. More than 70 years ago, also in Hotan, Kurban, a farmer, planned to ride a donkey to Beijing, which became a touching story well-known across the country, though he fulfilled his dream by taking a railway trip. In 2023, Alifu Mamat, a farmer from Korla City in Xinjiang, cycled for 53 days covering 3,000 kilometers all by himself, just to watch the flag-raising ceremony at Tian'anmen Square on National Day. Along the way, he shared selfies on Douyin, just to see the beautiful scenery that Kurban couldn't see more than 60 years ago.

Today, Xinjiang, together with the whole country, has shaken off poverty and is moving towards a happy life. In the increasingly better days, even though Tian'anmen is thousands of miles away, it will always be the closest and dearest place in their hearts.

"Tian'anmen, please take me to Beijing." This feeling may not be easily expressed, but once spoken out, it is as firm as an oath carved in stone, isn’t it?