Islamabad, Sep 2: A group of media representatives and think tank members from Pakistan traveled to Xinjiang, China, to experience the natural beauty, rich cultural legacy, and contemporary development accomplishments of the area. The most beautiful season in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is when late summer turns into early fall. On the first day, the Pakistani delegation was given a special performance in the Xinjiang Muqam Art Theatre, a place devoted to presenting the Uygur Muqam.
The traditional music of Urumqi is distinctly Eastern, as noted by former Minister of Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi, who also noted the music’s cultural resonance. This comprehensive performing art integrates singing, dancing, and musical instrument performances, offering a spectacular cultural experience. You may not even be aware of where you are in Urumqi, Istanbul, Tehran, Kabul, Peshawar, or Lahore while you are listening. The entire region’s civilizations are interconnected through this song. Culture unites people more than anything else, and dancing and music are essential components of that link.
Prominent Pakistani journalist Imran stated, “Xinjiang has been an essential component of the Silk Road, connecting Pakistan to China, for ages. There are many cultural parallels between the two areas. I’m hoping that more Pakistanis will visit us so they can personally feel these common cultural bonds.
The Uygur, Han, Kazak, Hui, and many more ethnic groups live in harmony in Xinjiang today, a region still home to several ethnic groups. The Pakistani delegates witnessed the Uygur people’s traditional way of life in the Kazanqi folk tourism region, a well-liked beautiful location in Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, according to China Economic Net.
The appearance and design of the streets and lanes are almost unchanged from a century ago. There’s always the clip-clop of hooves and the sweet jingling of horse bells when strolling through Kazanqi’s ancient streets. These are Kazanqi’s distinctive horse-drawn vehicles.
In these carriages, the delegates from Pakistan traveled by rows of courtyard houses painted in a blue Moroccan style, eventually coming to a stop in front of one of these homes. With a warm greeting, the host stood at the doorway and invited the Pakistani guests to sample a variety of dishes, including naan bread, Xinjiang milk tea, pastries, raisins, and more.
This is Imran’s first visit to Xinjiang, and to be honest, I did not anticipate it to be as developed as the rest of China, he said, sitting beneath a vine that had bunches of grapes hanging from it. After a few visits, though, I concluded that it was exceptional in the way that industrialization and cultural preservation were blended, on par with neighboring provinces.
The region’s efforts to preserve its cultural legacy while advancing economically are genuinely admirable. Even smaller ethnic groups like the Xibe people are part of Xinjiang’s cultural legacy, in addition to the Uygur community, which makes up the majority of the region’s ethnic population. Approximately 700 kilometers from Urumqi, in Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County, is where the world’s sole newspaper published in the Xibe language is printed. The Xibe people are proud of this journal, which goes by the name Qapqal News.
The journal is published four times a year in 100 issues, with an approximate yearly circulation of 240,000 copies. In an era where languages are rapidly disappearing from the planet, the Xibe ethnic group, The Xibe people, who number about 190,000 and make up around one ten-thousandth of China’s entire population, have taken initiative and are proud of their past to help preserve the language.
Tan Dongchu, a Qapqal County official in charge of cultural exchanges, gave credit for the language’s survival to the Xibe people’s initiative and perseverance in developing their language, as well as the state’s policies that favor Xinjiang.
The president of Qapqal News, Guo Xingang, also mentioned that the newspaper employs an increasing number of young people and that a Xibe language major has been formed at Ili Normal University to guarantee that there would be no shortage of successors.After touring the newspaper’s premises, Daily Ittehad deputy editor Maarij Farooq said, “It’s really amazing how they’ve managed to preserve their culture and language here.” I’m not sure what else qualifies as the protection of ethnic minority groups if this.
Even the most remote administrative regions, including the countryside, are included in Xinjiang’s cultural preservation initiatives. In Wuzongbulake Village in Qapqal Town, groups of old gentlemen may be seen playing poker, there are elaborate murals on the outside of inhabitants’ homes, and thick grapevines overflow the courtyard walls.
Every now and then, groups of kids with basketballs give their Pakistani guests a suspicious look. Although this cheerful, cozy, and peaceful setting could give the impression that one is in a historic, old neighborhood, the hamlet was only founded in 2013, merely ten years prior.
Wuzongbulake Village’s Party Secretary, Yang Yang, gave an explanation of why the people living there mostly Kazaks were moved from six other villages in Qapqal Town, where they faced risks from the environment, inadequate transportation, and no prospects for employment. The government has allocated RMB 130 million for livelihood initiatives since the move started in 2013, guaranteeing that the village has a comfortable atmosphere, practical transportation, and state-of-the-art infrastructure.
The inhabitants have created a community that perfectly captures Kazak folk traditions, capitalizing on the distinctive attractiveness of Kazak culture and fostering a flourishing tourism sector. There is a lot of naan-making, needlework, and roasting of whole lambs. In their hometown, those with these skills can make a respectable life.
Former President of the People’s Press Secretary Qamar Bashir finished his reflections on his visit by saying, “I feel that after ten years, returning to China, the changes are almost transformative.” Regardless of their line of work, I’ve discovered from interacting with regular Chinese people that they are more self-assured and content with their lives. People in this region, particularly in Xinjiang, seem content and at ease. Anyone who believes false information to be true should come here and see for themselves.
