Urumqi, China
A diverse group of journalists from across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East recently concluded an immersive week-long field trip to China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, gaining firsthand insight into the area’s rich cultural heritage, rapid socio-economic development, and efforts to balance tradition with modernization.
Organized as part of the “China Up Close” media initiative, the visit brought together 51 delegates from 49 media outlets representing 41 countries. The itinerary spanned key sites in the Turpan-Hami cities, with stops in Urumqi, Turpan, Shanshan, Hami City, and Yiwu County. Journalists explored ancient cities, religious and medical institutions, traditional villages, and modern industrial hubs, experiencing both Xinjiang’s historic legacy and its contemporary dynamism.
Delegates visited the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi, a vibrant marketplace renowned for its ethnic crafts, local cuisine, and cultural performances. In Turpan, the group toured the Jiaohe Ruined City—one of the world’s largest and best-preserved ancient earthen cities and a UNESCO World Heritage site—as well as the Thousand Buddha Caves and the historic Karez irrigation system, an ancient engineering marvel still vital to the region’s agriculture.
The itinerary also highlighted Xinjiang’s economic transformation. Journalists observed cutting-edge projects such as the Hami Molten Salt Tower-type Solar Power Plant, a pioneering renewable energy facility, and the Urumqi Bonded Exhibition and Trading Center, which anchors Xinjiang’s growing role in cross-border e-commerce and global trade. Visits to local enterprises showcased advances in high-tech agriculture, traditional Chinese medicine, and the burgeoning wine industry, all contributing to rural income growth and sustainable development.
Organizers emphasized that the field trip aimed to provide a nuanced, authentic perspective on Xinjiang’s multifaceted identity, countering prevailing narratives by highlighting economic progress, cultural preservation, and social stability. The journey included high-speed train travel, allowing delegates to experience the region’s modern transportation infrastructure alongside its ancient landmarks.
Xinjiang’s government, marking the region’s 70th anniversary, has set ambitious goals for 2025, targeting robust GDP growth and prioritizing ten key industries, including tourism, advanced manufacturing, and high-quality agriculture. The region expects to welcome over 320 million tourists this year, underscoring its emergence as a major destination for both domestic and international visitors.
The media field trip follows recent international forums, such as the 2025 Media Cooperation Forum of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries, which underscored the importance of media in fostering mutual understanding and connectivity across Eurasia. Organizers hope that firsthand reporting by participating journalists will enrich global coverage of Xinjiang and promote balanced dialogue about the region’s ongoing transformation.
As Xinjiang continues to position itself as a strategic link between Central Asia, Eurasia, South Asia, and the Middle East, initiatives like this field trip highlight the region’s commitment to openness, cultural exchange, and shared prosperity.
