Xinjiang

Xinjiang, officially the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, is the far western region of the People's Republic of China. It covers about 1.66 million square kilometers, making it the largest provincial-level division in the country. The landscape includes deserts such as the Taklamakan, the Tarim Basin, and mountain systems like the Tian Shan and Kunlun ranges. The climate is predominantly arid or semi-arid, with irrigation supporting productive oases.

Ürümqi is the regional capital and largest city. Xinjiang is ethnically diverse, with Uyghurs, Han Chinese, Kazakhs, Hui, Kyrgyz, Tajiks, Mongols, and others. The Uyghur language, a Turkic tongue, is widely spoken alongside Mandarin Chinese. The region is administratively divided into prefectures and counties, and includes areas governed by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a state organization with both administrative and economic responsibilities.

The economy benefits from energy resources, including oil, natural gas, and minerals, as well as cotton production and agriculture in oasis areas. Industrial activity is concentrated in energy, petrochemical, and manufacturing sectors, supported by infrastructure such as rail links to other parts of China and cross-border trade routes. Xinjiang’s location makes it a key node in broader regional connectivity initiatives.

Xinjiang has a long historical presence on the Silk Road, with historic cities such as Kashgar and Hotan serving as cultural and commercial centers. The region hosts Islamic and Buddhist cultural traditions, and a variety of architectural and culinary practices. In recent decades, governance and human rights issues tied to ethnic policy and security have drawn international attention and debate, with differing assessments by Chinese authorities and international observers.