Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) organized a study tour to Northwest China’s Xinjiang from July 22 to 29, giving the Uygur autonomous region a chance to showcase itself as a haven of cultural diversity, ethnic unity, progressive ideas, prosperity and openness.
The tour, themed "Understanding Contemporary China, Experiencing Open Xinjiang", included 20 international students from 15 countries, including Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Japan, South Korea, Germany, France, Russia and Pakistan, as well as 16 students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and four experts from Madagascar, the United States and India.
The tour commenced with visits to Xinjiang University (XJU) and Kizilsu Vocational and Technical College, where participants delved into XJU’s history, toured the Kirgiz embroidery research center and enjoyed komuz performances, getting a glimpse of Xinjiang’s preservation and promotion of intangible cultural heritage.
At the Urumqi International Land Port Area, tour members got an idea of Xinjiang's role as a key logistics hub for the Belt and Road Initiative as rows of containers and China-Europe freight trains carrying goods rolled by.
Later, they roamed Kashgar's cross-border e-commerce import and export commodity exhibition and trading center and the Pamir Central Asia Import and Export Commodity Exhibition Area. These venues offer a variety of imported goods from places like Japan, South Korea, Russia and Kazakhstan, showcasing the effectiveness of Xinjiang's openness to the world.
The tour group also visited several local companies, where they learned how the enterprise-cooperative-plantation operation model effectively improves the lives of fruit farmers and the significant role small and micro industries play in providing employment opportunities and boosting the economic growth of local towns.
One of the highlights of the tour was the visits to communities and towns in Kashgar and Kezilesu Kirgiz autonomous prefecture, where participants saw the tangible improvements in residents' lives brought by the renovation of old neighborhoods. Community services such as dining, medical care, cultural activities and even foot massages have significantly enhanced the quality of life and happiness. The integration of agriculture, intangible cultural heritage and tourism has also boosted rural development.
As a significant hub on the ancient Silk Road, Xinjiang has a profound history and diverse cultural characteristics shaped by the exchange and fusion of Eastern and Western cultures. Trips to cultural sites such as the Xinjiang Museum, Jiaohe Ruins and Zhenzhong Ancient City enriched the tour group’s understanding of the commercial prosperity and civilization exchanges along the ancient Silk Road.
The members also visited the Kezilesu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture Museum to learn the stories and cultural heritage of the Kirgiz people. In addition, they watched The Epic of Manas - a classic of Kirgiz literature - and equestrian shows.
Wandering the ancient streets of Kashgar, the tour group absorbed the essence of Uygur residential architecture, admired exquisite handicrafts, tasted local cuisine and danced with the hospitable locals, immersing themselves in Xinjiang's vibrant ethnic culture.
