My name is Nguyen Thi Nhung. I'm from Vietnam and currently a doctoral student in Chinese Classical Philology in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Peking University. As an international student, I feel truly honored to take part in the "Understanding Contemporary China and Perceiving Open Xinjiang" Program.

Participants of the "Understanding Contemporary China and Perceiving Open Xinjiang" program dance with locals at a resident's house in Tacheng Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Xinjiang, once known as the "Western Regions," is more than just a historical name in books to me — it is a vibrant and culturally rich land that truly comes alive. This journey has allowed me to deeply experience Xinjiang's unique charm: a place where ancient civilizations met along the Silk Road, and today stands as a vivid reflection of China's openness, progress, and inclusive spirit.

This is my first time setting foot in Xinjiang, and I arrived with great curiosity and heartfelt anticipation, eager to learn and experience all it has to offer. Though my field trip lasted only a few days, it completely transformed the way I see this remarkable region. Xinjiang is not only home to breathtaking landscapes often shared on platforms like Rednote, but also possesses impressive industrial strength and vibrant development. At the Karamay Oilfield, I witnessed firsthand the powerful engine driving Xinjiang's progress. Standing beside the oil well, I could feel the deep dedication of generations of oil workers — what they've built with their hard work and perseverance is not just an industrial achievement, but also a lasting symbol of resilience and spirit.

During every journey in Tacheng, cultural integration is ubiquitous. Locations like Baktu Port are all imbued with the hustle and bustle of multiple ethnic groups and the imprints of commerce. As a crucial region in China's Belt and Road Initiative, Xinjiang is fully leveraging its natural geographical advantages to establish connections with Central Asian and European countries. I am confident that Xinjiang will undoubtedly recreate the glory of the ancient Silk Road in the future.

What touched me most was the heartfelt spirit of unity among all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. In Yuliu alley, it's common to find families made up of members from two or more ethnic backgrounds, living together in harmony. This showed me that ethnic unity here is not just a slogan — it's a warm, living reality woven into everyday life. The residents welcomed us, visitors from all around the world, with such kindness and openness, no matter our background or where we came from. Their warmth deeply moved me. Seeing them sing, laugh, and dance together in the courtyard was a beautiful moment I will carry with me forever.

Nguyen Thi Nhung, coming from Vietnam, is a doctoral student in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Peking University.

Producer: Xiao Chunfei

Supervisors: Ding Tao and Jie Wenjin

Planners: Jie Wenjin and Cheng Li

Reviewers: Cheng Li and Hou Weili

Editor: Gvlzar Mijit