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The local government decided to rebuild the old town because old houses in Kashgar were dangerous to live. They could be ruined in earthquake and Xinjiang is in an earthquake zone.
these days thanks to internet, social media and internet news articles in general, sped up spreading fake news. Trash like China Observers, Serpentza, etc. to Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, FoxNews, etc. Opening up to world for tourism is a great way, especially now that everyone do film
Welcome to my hometown! I hope you can discover the real Xinjiang during your travels and see beyond the lies spread by Western media and politicians. We have over 20 ethnic minorities here, all living harmoniously together, with various religions and cultures blending and respecting each other. While the modernization of our cities may not be as advanced as Beijing or Shanghai, you will still find everything you need here. Xinjiang boasts delicious food, warm-hearted people, and heavenly beautiful scenery. Urumqi is also considered one of the safest cities in the country， warmly welcome you to visit!
@@slimturnpike Did you witness these things with your own eyes? If you don't have the ability to personally verify what you heard there, please close your mouth
@@puchong4129 I've read the reports from the UN Human Rights Office and human rights groups who have collected eyewitness testimonies, including those of former detainees. That trumps your naivete, so you can shut your mouth, your feeble protests . Facts don't care about your feelings or your ill-placed patriotism, sorry.
@@slimturnpike If you think what the Western media say is right, then you should go to Xinjiang to experience it for yourself and interview the local elders, then you will understand everything instead of speculating here
From north to south, east to west of China, you two had almost traveled the whole China! Respect! Xinjiang is the mental hometown of me as a southern Chinese❤
@@josieliftsthingsI’m sure there’s MORE to see! Looking forward to more videos of your travel. Have you gone to Southern China, Fujian province? It’s the place where a large percentage of Chinese tea leaves come from.
@@josieliftsthings😂😂 half of these ppl were speaking Mandarin to you with local accent, kid ask were u from and you just replied I don't understand. U understand. Is the checkpoint here worse than Benjing?
If you ask the local people, their income has been doubled, tripled or even quadrupled bacaused of the modernization. I have been living in Australia for nearly 18 years. Xinjiang used to be poor area in China and now it's catching up. There is still long way to go. The government has a lot of favourable policy to minorities. I still remember that they can go to Uni with less scores than Han people. Back then, I didn't think it's fair. But now I understand the government has just been trying to support them.
More importantly, the China's One Child Policy was not applicable to the minorities they can have as many children as they want. The Western media painted it like it applied to the entire population but in truth it only applied to the Han Chinese.
More importantly, the China's One Child Policy was only applicable to Han Chinese as for the Minorities they were not affected by this policy they can have as many children they wanted. However, the Western media painted as if this policy was applicable across the entire population.
The first buns you buy are called baked buns. Because most of the population in Xinjiang are Muslims, the baked buns are filled with beef or mutton. When roasting, they will sprinkle some salt water on the wall of the pit, and the temperature inside can reach above Thousand degrees, so try to open it before eating. There will be many large salt grains at the bottom of the baked buns. It is best to remove them before eating.
I have lived in Xinjiang for a year(2018.9-2019.9) and have been to almost all counties. I know many friends of Uyghur, Mongolian, and Tajik ethnic groups. I miss the beautiful scenery, delicious food, and friends there. I will go there again❤
I am Dutch Chinese and I love following your channel. You have the most innocent and neutral way of showing China to the world, even the most sensitive misunderstood places. Thank you for doing this
I have been to Xinjiang for a total of 27 days, and have been to maybe half of the scenic spots, and yet i still feel i have to go back again just for the beautiful sceneries along the way. Im so happy foreign youtubers are finally visiting the 2 major cities, but if only you could do a road trip from the northern part of Altar, all the way down to Tashkurgan, you will see natural sights from green trees, green grass, lakes, to dessert basins. We in China have a saying that why go to Europe when you have Xinjiang? You can see grasslands and mountains just like in the Sounds of Music in Nalati Grassland, you will see the largest desert in China in Taklimakan desert. That's why a road trip in Xinjiang is a must, hopefully y'all can experience what Xinjiang has to offer other than Urumqi and Kashgar!
Hey Josie, rebuilding communities has nothing to do with tourism. People want to live in a modern city while preserving their cultures in their own chosen way. Culture IS NOT old buildings. Culture is people, culture is how these people choose to express themselves and live. Just because buildings and areas are renovated, DOES NOT MEAN the history is erased. This is too simplistic and tourist like thinking.
Also, they renovated the houses but still tried to reserve the old style... They seriously prefer them just living in their shitty old houses with leaking roofs or what
New buildings do not necessarily mean that culture is erased, but you cannot say that old buildings cannot represent culture.😅 Old buildings are often witnesses to history, carrying the architectural styles, craftsmanship, and lifestyles and value systems of specific periods. For example, ancient palaces and temples, with their exquisite carvings and unique layouts, reflect the aesthetic standards and religious beliefs of the time and are a concrete representation of culture. Old buildings are like a series of three-dimensional history books, recording past cultural achievements. How can they not represent culture?
The new generation wants to live in modern houses, just like you do. You can't expect people to live in old houses built decades ago with mud, just so you can experience the culture when you visit.
Thanks.❤❤❤ Once you understand why some countries cannot find genocide in Gaza, then you immediately understand why they can find genocide in Xinjiang.
I completely agree with the latter part of the video discussing whether buildings with traditional cultural characteristics should undergo modernization. For tourists, this allows them to experience the pure local culture. However, for local residents, it often means dealing with poor sanitation, outdated infrastructure, and higher fire risks. Everyone has the right to enjoy modern living. While urban renewal may cause us to lose certain elements, it significantly improves the lives of those who live there.
Yes, I guess they didn't visit the local Museum to see how their lives were in the past, especially their housing built by mud. Xinjiang has had lot of earthquakes that killed people living that mud houses. It's fair for the locals living in the dangerous mud houses in order to please or tourists in the name of preserving the history, they can go to museums to see that "history".
Why would going to a curated museum be something I would do if the point that was shared is to go there and see what it’s actually like? That is quite literally the opposite of what should be done. We literally said they have the right to live in safe houses, I have no idea why you pick and choose what you want to listen to fit your own narrative. It’s so strange.
@@josieliftsthings A very simple question, you should interview local people in Kashgar whether they are satisfied with today's development life, or whether they should retain houses damaged by the earthquake, or convenient development of transportation and houses. Kashgar people will tell you the answer.
i think the locals should be answering that question, but I know what the answer is. Everyone wants a new updated house with running water, toilets and safe wiring. I'd take a new house here in Canada and trade in my old one in a heartbeat. The majority doesn't want to live in a 500 year old house unless it's a palace. For tourists, they want to see them in huts or mudhouse or draped in leopard skin if possible just so they can enjoy the authentic exotic culture for a few hours, but for the ppl who will have to live there 365 days a year and have seen the authetic culture all their lives, they'd prefer newer and better amenities.
Because Xinjiang is located in an earthquake zone, you can find that there are frequent earthquakes in Xinjiang, and the frequency of earthquakes is even once every two or three days. Most of the houses are built with mud and bricks, which are no longer suitable for human habitation. Just like Nepal, when an earthquake comes, all the historical relics rooms collapse, so the government needs to rebuild and reinforce the houses to avoid this problem.
Agree. When buildings are unsafe they have to be torn down and rebuilt. It seems it’s impossible to please everyone. No matter what they do there will be criticism of some type. If buildings are unsafe and torn down, they are criticized for tearing it down but if they were not torn down and people are killed due to unsafe conditions then they will be criticized for that too. I like Josie but it seems like they’re trying too hard to look for something to feel uneasy about. I say stop judging. The residents are safe and happy, That’s all that matters. Yes, it’s touristy, that’s part of the poverty alleviation program..to boost economy in the region so that people’s lives are better. Or would you rather see them poor? There are other regions in Xinjiang that are less touristy/less visited, you can visit those places.
Been to Xinjiang twice in 2018 and 2019, just feel that young people are full of confidence and with their bright future. It is because they have been given vocational training according to their interests. Many of them said they are using these trainings to earn a living and support their family. They want to save enough money so that they can run their own business in the near future. 👍👍👍
GREAT video! my favorite city Kashgar!!! there may be some chaos in the past few years but for now XINJIANG is absolutely a safe and incredible place to travel and live
If you are still in Xinjiang, at 16:09 the melon you point at is the famous "laohan"melon [老汉瓜], which is a must-try sweet melon if you are still in Xinjiang. Not necessary the best taste but the rarest species not cultivated anywhere else, also a melon impossible to transport, thus only a local delicacy.
lol. now you'll get tons of message like 'why don't you go to the concentration camp' blah blah blah. Don't waste your time on those ignorance Josie. You can't show anything to those who don't want to open their eyes. tha fact that you can go to Xinjiang, with camera in your hand, meeting all the Uyghurs, and roam freely, speak louder than them.
Not quite sure about foreigners, but at least Taiwanese residents are able to hire cars in Xinjiang as shown in some of the RUclips videos. So technically anyone can hire a car in Xinjiang to drive around to check those assumed camps if they like.
Mr. Ma Kaishuo, the former Singaporean ambassador to the United Nations, a famous scholar and diplomat, said: The United States doesn't like Muslims, let alone Gaza Muslims, but the United States is particularly concerned about Muslims in Xinjiang, China!😂😂😂
To be totally honest, you rarely hear about Xinjiang in Australian media. I’d never heard of it before. My desire to go and see it came from American commenters telling me I couldn’t/wouldnt.
I hate to say this, but I really don't like the mentality of those self-serving travelers complaining about not seeing the old style of life. The city/town is not a museum or a zoo. It' is a place where people live. Changes are inevitable. People love to see the culture and flock to the region. A dedicated part of the city is preserved to look old. Locals try to make a better life by earning tourist money. Given a choice, everyone would opt for modern sewage system, safe power supply, fire proof building and so on. As a visitor, complaining about the modernisation is a bit rich. Old market with dirt track and floppy canopy is not the most enviable way of living. Taking it down for having a better place for trade is nothing wrong IMHO. Mind you, these Ughur people don't live in a confined place, aka a sanctuary. They have every rights to live a life as good as any other Chinese nationals. When I went to Oz, I didn't expect all people wearing their shackles and ushered by prison guards.
Maybe you need to rewatch and listen to what was actually said, because your points are in agreeance with us, We’re allowed to lament what modernisation brings (or removes) whilst simultaneously understanding and agreeing it’s what’s best for locals you know? There IS depth to topics.
well... my mum told me when she were young and living in a old Chinese style wooden house. One family got fire,the whole street got fire. For the people who live there, deserve something new❤😊
Whatever the Chinese government does in Xinjiang will always be looked at with suspicion by the West. The problem does not lie with the Chinese government; it lies with Western culture. One thing that sets Western culture apart from Chinese culture is the strong sense of ethnonationalism in the West, which has traditionally been one of the driving forces shaping European history for the past several millennia, and the weak sense of ethnonationalism (though strong nationalism) in Chinese culture. The strong sense of ethnonationalism in Western culture is the real reason why the West is convinced that the Chinese government has sinister motives against the Uighurs or Tibetans. Westerners project their understanding of human behavior onto cultures very different from their own and explain them in terms of their own historical experience. This is why allegations of Uighur and Tibetan oppression are widely accepted as truth-because Westerners would immediately "get it" upon hearing it. Westerners who are skeptical of this perspective can conduct a reverse experiment: they can find a fluent English-speaking Chinese person and explain to them the historical antisemitism in Europe or the historical Irish experience with the English. That Chinese person would have no idea what they are talking about because there is no similar historical experience in Chinese history to draw upon. Until Westerners internalize this difference between the two cultures, the Chinese government will have to put up with this nonsense for years to come.
I fully agree with your take but i think this is only the reason why these rumours are so easily propogated within western societies, not how and where they were originated. The history behind is rather simple. In the old days when the information flows around more slowly, there was that branch of Islam that tried to radicalize the entire Islamic world, tauten emotions and exploit their ignorance so to support their radical causes. The entire world faced the problem, so did China. China had to take actions just like everywhere in the world, the west, the middle east, and south-east asia. The west waged wars, and China went into Xingjiang to clear the cancer of Islamic radicalism. When things quiet down, however, the west suddenly realized that this is a great and easy story to spin (due to the cultural characteristics mentioned in your analysis). The western politicians and media started to populate and weave the web of lies around Xinjiang to defame and undermine the Chinese government, to further their political agenda. So i disagree with you on the last part of your analysis. I don't think westerners would ever internalize the difference, and i don't think after even they have a better understanding of Chinese culture, they will side with Chinese government or Chinese soceity. This is an information warfare, and no one will let their puppets loose.
Well said, the entire western culture is built based on colonialism. If you look at any western history, you’ll see nothing about 2 cultures co-existing, NEVER. It’s always white supremacy white culture 😂 the idea of 2 ethnicity, let alone 56 ethnicities in one country, is just impossible in the west
You are wrong. The root of the problem is not cultural differences, but the intention to suppress the Chinese government and occupy the high ground of public opinion so that they can export various ideologies unscrupulously.
I watched the first minute of the video and I already wanna say you’re doing a wonderful thing, to show people what China is really like. I hope you enjoy the journey!
The rice in the large cooking device is pilaf (called polu in Uyghur, and Zhuafan in Mandadrin) or plov in Uzbek. It's extremely delicious, made from lamb cooked in rice with garlic and thoroughly well cooked baby carrots that taste like sweet honey treats. Super super delicious and its a dish that's extremely popular staple in Central Asia and China's muslim communities.
Great video! Regarding the last part, I shall say it is really hard to balance modernizing and preserving old buildings. As an urban planner and landscape architect, I've participated in many historical restoration and reserve projects in China, especially in Xi'an, where I come from. Firstly, many historical buildings, particularly residential ones, are quite fragile and severely damaged. This is mainly because the construction materials used were not primarily stone, combined with factors such as natural disasters, wars, and earthquakes. Consequently, the number of historical buildings, especially for normal residential houses, that can still be used after simple modern renovations is not as high as people might imagine. Therefore, many urban areas in China have been newly constructed to meet residents' needs. Secondly, due to the aforementioned reasons, many ordinary residential buildings are not as historically old as people might think. Most were built in the past century, and the wars, social upheaval, and economic underdevelopment of the last hundred years have resulted in poor building quality and conditions. The significance of renovating and preserving such buildings is quite limited. Thirdly, the preservation and renovation of historical buildings are time-consuming and costly endeavors. For many economically underdeveloped regions, this poses a significant burden. As improving people's living conditions needs to be prioritized, more money and time are spent on more efficient reconstruction. However, buildings that are well-preserved or hold high historical value are still given considerable attention for repair and renovation. These buildings are generally found more in developed areas, where both the government and individuals can afford the time and money required for their restoration and preservation. So..yes, balancing this issue is indeed challenging. As an urban planner, I genuinely hope every building can be properly renovated and preserved. However, as a resident, I also desire for living conditions to improve as quickly as possible. You might not have seen the rural area in China 30 years ago. Take Xi'an, for example. Many residential houses in small countries around Xi'an were made of earth, wood, or brick, and they may look quaint and historical, but in reality, they were often less than 100 years old. Older ones were destroyed long ago. These houses generally had poor conditions and numerous safety hazards, with minimal historical value. The residents living in these houses were often eager to build new homes, construct better roads, and improve their quality of life. Therefore, considerations are often more people-centred, necessitating some trade-offs.
Schools in Xinjiang have been teaching in Uyghur language, and Uyghurs continue to preserve their traditional culture, whether it's food, clothing, language, or dance. Even Uyghurs who have moved to Beijing and Shanghai enjoy dancing Xinjiang dance in local parks. Even though the truth is here, there are still people who say that the Chinese government is destroying their culture, which is sad.
ecause the world is not stupid they know the insidious and repressive racist nature of the Chinese Han . the Han lies, cheat and hides . they have never been a frank race . they will HIDE AND DECEIVE until they are CONFRONTED WITH THEIR LIES AND CHEATING.
@@vapaus831 Historically, Xinjiang, like Taiwan, has never been an independent country. It’s just that now Western countries are deliberately encouraging them to undermine China’s development.
I'm so happy u guys show the truth to the people. My grandma is a Uyghur from Xinjiang, when I was a child, my parents were very busy with work. my grandma raised me. She and her friends are very grateful to the government and made many good policies to help Xinjiang. The income and living standards of Xinjiang people have doubled several times in 20years. Xinjiang students have lower scores than Chinese students who need to take the Chinese sat. Many policies and training help us develop agriculture, manufacturing and tourism. All Xinjiang people are grateful to the government and love our motherland. I'm so confused Y the Western media “knows ”Xinjiang better than ourselves. We like our life ,We love our motherland very much.I hope those western media can shut fck up and leave us alone.
Hi! I grew up in Parramatta and now I live in Hong Kong. Great channel, love the vids. I think Michael made a good point in saying that people have a right to modernization. When I travel, I also like to see genuine historical things, but if those genuine historical things are in disrepair or lack basic amenity (noting china not long ago wasnt a very wealthy place), then the people from those places should have the right to have new things. I'm saying that if an ancient way of living is totally lost, due to progress - and as long as folks are prospering and happy - it may be a shame from a tourist point of view. But people have the right to live better lives, rather than being novelties to the first world.
Yep it’s a complex scenario - I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer. As long as good intentions are the forefront of any change, that’s the best outcome I think. Thanks for watching! We miss Hong Kong, have to go back soon!
@@josieliftsthings do drop by again! Btw - the place where you got the pineapple bun (happy bakery) is actually really famous for their egg tarts, best if you can go during the day to get it fresh ~ Bake house is good, but not authentically HK style.
I believe the old town of Kashgar was hit by an earthquake. The local government took the opportunity to rebuild it with modern building materials and made it a bit wider.
@@jbennison5672 You are talking nonsense. The rebuilding was part of the poverty alleviation program. It was documented and videoed by other RUclipss. Many of the buildings have pictures of buildings before and after the earthquake plastered on the side of the wall. It reminds people of the devastating effects of earthquakes. If you were there, you must have known that the local government had to help the people whose home was destroyed by the earthquake.
yes, it's touristic in that area, because Xinjiang has been working to boost it's economy, and domestic tourism is massive in China. People are happy especially in that area as tourism is very lucrative, and who wouldn't be happy making money for their families. Regarding the rebuilding of infrastructure. it's not just fire, but earthquakes. In 2008 there was a massive earthquake in China which KILLED 70,000 people, it was a massive disaster which caused China to re-asses the countries infrastructure. Xinjiang had many places which were very dangerous if there was an earthquake, especially the old towns, with many of the buildings made from weak clay/mud bricks. you can google the images of them. Xinjiang is prone to earthquakes, they occur every 3-5 years. there was an lethal earthquake in Xinjiang this year in January, which displaced 12,400 people and killed 3. it could have been worse.
@@josieliftsthings There are children who ask you where the questions come from in Xinjiang, there are children who ask you what you are doing in Mandarin, and there are children who say goodbye to you in English. Hahaha
a lot of people in Xinjiang can speak both mandarin and local language（uyghur）. So most of the people are speaking mandarin to you, hope you can understand them. Almost each provice has its own language （such as Sichuan, Henan,Guangzhou,Xinjiang,Xizang, etc ）in China, like I from north cannot understand the local language in Shanghai, so we always speak mandarin in different areas.
I loved the look of this city- the quaint acc, the picturesque colourful streets and the friendly people. I enjoyed watching this video a lot - thank you.
Wish you guys could extend your stay in Xinjiang to show more and enjoy the local hospitality. A revisit should be in your bucket list. Enjoy much of your vlogs! Happy safe travelling to you two.
Xinjiang, fruit paradise of China, you have to try those in season and matured in the field, they taste totally different from those you buy from supermarkets with a loooong supply chain.
This is such a thought-provoking video! And touching also. Thank you for making these gorgeous videos! You guys always showed respect for the local culture wherever you go. Support you guys no matter what
very well said at the last there, everyone is welcomed to China including Xinjiang, to explore and experience with their own eyes. Culture is defined by its people. Even if your house is being renovated, it doesn't mean you'll lose the time and memories you've shared with your family, and you will continue to build new memories with them in the new houses. Since elementary schools, we all learn to sing this one song with lyrics translates to “Fifty-six ethnic groups are one family, and fifty-six languages come together in one sentence”, we may look different dress differently and speaks different languages, but we are united and recognize each other as one family, that has become a deeply ingrained belief and core value for us. Please continue to make these honest videos and feel free to express your opinions, China is massive and there are many places yet for you guys to explore, hope you guys enjoyed your time travelling in China! All the best🎉
It’s not part of china.. it’s illegally occupied Please tell your audience that u r capturing what they allow you. Please don misinterprets for ur own benefit. Be more responsible if u r real human with intelligent
I understand what Mike says about modernization, but also keep in mind that modernization brings jobs and wealth to the area, which helps the population to grow and more importantly, STAY in their home. If you travel to the villages, outside of the cities, you'll find all the tradition and culture that you want. You'll also find it's mostly populated by seniors and elders while all the young adults and children have moved out to live in the cities because there's no room for growth in villages not touched by modernization. Like you said, China is a giant land mass, so they don't need to build their modernization on top of existing infrastructure and risk the safety of existing, old foundations. They can literally raze and rebuild a safe and strong structure from the ground up. Travel out of the city, maybe have a local invite you to their home and you can still see the existing old traditions have not been erased.
Josie , there's always two sides to a coin and as travelers I believe you guys have seen and realized (somehow) why Kashgar or just like any other cities needed to be modernized. It is for the people's livelihood. Some things must be given up to progress. They may have developed and modernized Kashgar but Xinjiang people have still preserved their culture and tradition. Just because their buildings had been rebuilt doesn't mean that the people are forgetting their history or the government is erasing their heritage. Maybe some Uyghur didn't like the modernization and some love it. The government cannot please everyone. The government's focus is to elevate people's standard of living. Making it a tourist spot with new buildings make the city more attractive and safer while still preserving their culture. The tourists places will never be authentic anymore if you only go those type of areas. Just like any other cities in China , they are a representation of the past just a modern take of how they used to be... if you go outside of these tourist places, you will still see some of the old structures especially the Unesco World Heritages. I just hoped that you planned a longer time in Xinjiang. One month is not even enough to explore the province and fully understand Xinjiang and its people.
Well stated. 5000 years and Chinese ancient cultures and heritage have thrived. As a westerner, aside from religion... Dunno can't even think of anything. What did we eat 500 years ago? Did we wear suits and ties to weddings?
In the 70’s , British government removed the people in Hong Kong poor areas. Because the environment. We’re not safe! Why they can do that and same reason Chinese government can’t?
I think most of the people in the comment area may not have been to Xinjiang. I grew up in Xinjiang. The 7.5 incident in 10 years happened in front of my house, Nanmen Square, Erdao Bridge. Later, a car bomb hit the morning market on Park North Street, which was also frequented by my grandparents. On that day, many innocent old men and women who visited the morning market were killed. I think I have a certain say in this matter. First of all, another very important reason for the establishment of the education camp is to let some minority villages in southern Xinjiang receive education (there are many purely minority villages in the south, and education in Xinjiang itself is lacking. Some villages have no education level at all, do not understand the outside, and are easy to be brainwashed by terrorist organizations. In addition to language, the education camp will also teach skills, such as electricians and bricklayers, including computers). Education is very important. The meaning of this sentence is that you are all high-level people, and I don't need to explain more. However, it is undeniable that there are problems of infringement of personal freedom and deprivation of rights. You may feel righteous and indignant, especially after reading these media reports. But as a personal experiencer, I have read both domestic and foreign reports in the past few years, and now I feel that it is understandable enough. People will be afraid. If you live a peaceful life for decades, suddenly one day someone will cut you with a knife on the street, kill your family with a car bomb, and you have to hide at home to save your life. Such an experience, once, will be remembered for a lifetime, and you will tell yourself that I can't believe him. I will beat him to death, so that he won't do the same thing one day. From this perspective, try to think about the behavior of the government and regulators. There are also elements of human nature here. Don't think one-sidedly.
Many Uyghur people involved in terrorist attacks have not been punished by law, and the Chinese government is just trying to reason with them. The Uyghur population has grown from 2 million in 1949 to 12 million now, with per capita income higher than China's average level. A large number of mosques have been renovated and newly built. Why would such a living condition still serve extremist organizations? Later on, the Chinese government provided funding to send Uyghur children to big cities for better education, and many Uyghur families eagerly enrolled in the education program. Because Chinese people attach great importance to education, both Han and Uygur people hope their children will have a better life in the future.
Very good comment, yes there are indeed violations in the region, just as war crimes in by US committed by George W Bush and his troops. The problem I have with the western media reporting is the intention. It's often very one sided and it's purpose is to put China in the worst light possible not for the benefits of the victims, but for the geopolitical gains for nations that reports it. It is used as a tool to put a wedge between the Muslim world and China( which it did not succeed as most of those nations see the sidious intention)
Xinjiang has heavy armed police presence and strict security policy because of the 2009 terrorist attack in Urumuqi. The grand bazzar for example never even had security checks prior to that. You could just walk straight in and out.
Yeah the old town is quite touristy. Though if you guys walk beyond the district you can find more old architectures and ancient structures. I mean I'm preaching to the choir here. at 10:33 and 17:40 that's the Id Kah Mosque which was and is the largest mosque in XJ. It's gorgeous now and a center of community dances and festivals but in the early 2010s it was very dangerous because a terrorist attack happened there. But now the area is much safer. Josie and the curious watchers- if you guys want to see rural and more traditional unchanged part of XJ try to go to Turpan, it's still very classical, it's filled with vineyards in the area (Uyghurs have an ancient tradition of winemaking that dates back in Tocharian times and pre- Han dynasty and pre- Roman times) and you can also see the Loulan ancient city ruins, it was a vast city and once was a key stop on the ancient Silk Road. If you guys want to see what Turpan and rural XJ is like Katherine's Journey to the East did a great gonzo backpacker's coverage of it on her bike: She's quite regularly back and lives in CN atm.
US and EU has market Xinjiang for few years now, and has drawn 12 million tourists to Xinjiang in 2023 alone. 😂 Right now, Xinjiang is famous and a must see destination for tourist.
Does the west care about Muslims in Afghanistan, Iraq and Gaza? Why only Muslims in Xinjiang. If Muslims from those places could come to live in Xinjiang, I think they would be very happy
Western Governments are run by brainless politicians who have no idea how other people think and actually behave when faced by adversity. They believe in their own hubris and prejudices and thus, formulate their own plans according to what they believe they themselves may do if they are to lose their jobs (ie they'll blame their own government and so, they think by making Uyghurs lose their jobs, they will blame the CPC Government). They don't realize that the Uyghurs are more aware of the outside world in the U.S. than the U.S. believes and that the Uyghurs are perfect aware that they have been targeted by the Americans. And so, when their jobs are jeopardised by American sanctions and embargoes, they learn to hate the Americans - especially when they see how their own government has bought up their cotton that they have been unable to sell because of the American trade sanctions. The same thing goes for their solar panels and any other product that they have been engaged in and sales affected by the American actions. The politicians in the West are insanely idiotic when they think that by attacking the people in Tibet and Xinjiang, they will hate their own CPC Government. It is a twisted logic that makes no sense - and points to an inability to learn from their own mistakes. For example, they believe that when they bomb their enemies, their enemies will turn around and hate their own government or their society will disintegrate and become chaotic. However, all evidence has shown since WW2 that the opposite has occurred - whether it was the Germans who bombed London or the British Bomber Command bombing Germany or in the Vietnamese War when the Americans were bombing the Vietnamese "back to the Stone Age" or bombing the Taliban in Afghanistan - none of those tactics worked in the way that the side bombing the other believed that the civilian population would behave. So, in summary, the way in which Western politicians DO NOT THINK is legendary. They are unable to understand that "you attract more bees to your hives with honey than with vinegar" - and so, they sanction, they embargo, they restrict trade, they rob others of a livelihood, they make others suffer and they bomb. 😅😂😁
Life for the Uyghurs had been good for the last 10+ years. Especially when Xi jinping had appointed one of his closest subordinate to be in-charge of Xinjiang, more resources will be poured into Xinjiang to help it develop faster. The one-belt-one-road which is now linking up the central Asian countries, Xinjiang will be the trading hub of China & Central Asia which will bring more opportunities for the Uyghurs. Young Uyghurs had better education then their parents and wanted more opportunities and Xinjiang will be different in another 10~20 years. Yes, people felt that it is sad that Kasghar is going to be renovated to be more 'touristy' but if the locals want it that way so that they can make more money from tourism, what can we say? Uyghurs were like everybody in the world who hoped for a better life. They might hope to change their environment for better living standards and who are we to tell them how they should live like.
Hey josie , you may be have forgotten me , but i'm the guy that commented on the Best Banh Mi in Vietnam back in 2022, and i would say that you have been rising so much and i didnt even believe in my eyes ,since in 2022 you were almost unknown and now being one of the biggest travelers on youtube,so thats all i wanted to say,wish you the best and have fun in travelling in Asia and all around the world .
Wow. Thank you so much!!! That was so long ago - it is so crazy that you have known of my channel for so long, and that you remember me! Thank you so much for this comment - it made me think about where I came from today and definitely made my day that you remember me and my videos from back then. Thank you so much! 😊😊
There's a good saying“It's not lies that cut but the sharpness of the truth” That's why you can freely discuss Xinjiang and are forbidden to discuss Gaza
In China, there is usually a complete reconstruction plan, such as what needs to be preserved and what needs to be rebuilt. Just like the place you mentioned that is rebuilt as a "tourist attraction", it is actually a place that is renovated while retaining the original building, while other places may need to be demolished and rebuilt. Kashgar is a desert city, and it has nothing to produce. The only thing that can allow local people to live a better life is tourism. So, you can't be disappointed by what they built for tourists. Similarly, preserving history is a good thing, but you can't let local people still live in history just because it preserves history. This is the meaning of urban reconstruction.
@@keepingittight Or Australians with the Indigenous people. The answer is also no as we tried to breed them out. I am an Australian and I was never thought about what we did to the Aborigines and only found out about it in my 20s.
Yes you can. The alternative is oppression and using them for your own personal gain. Let people live how they want, unless it hurts others. Not everybody has to benefit your ideal fantasy about how the world should be.
I always visit museums while traveling around my country so I can touch the histories of the cities and the people. As time goes by, things get old and demolished, and new things are constructed.That's how we embrace our own future. Your videos are nice and lovely.Love from CN.
Have heard so many negative news about Tibet and Xinjing here in North America, their human rights, forced labor, their religions are not allowed....those were sad. Glad you visited those areas with open mind. I really enjoyed your video. Appreciated you bring us a glance of how local people lives there, colorful houses, clean street, bake in a traditional way, dancing in the square. Everything looks harmony and vivid. Sorry you visited a market that no longer there, google didn't update?! I wish I could see more via your eyes.
Xinjiang (56 official ethnicities people) speak Mandarin. They are truly happy & friendly people. I met a family of Kashgar Uygur. They are so friendly & happy. They invited me to stay with them & eat with them without charging me. Genuinely nice.
Meet a young Han Muslim guide. He said that he wants to enjoy modern living as all young people while adhering to religious rules. He would return to traditional Muslim way of living like his parents after he have got married when would be 40-yr old. A young man trying to master his own life and balance well between traditional religious and modern living. 😄
Guess this is a good representation of the chinese mindset. 5000 years and you still see ancient traditions practiced. When I look west.... All I see is Hollywood.
I don't know if you guys have noticed? One big difference for travelers in China compared to other countries is that you won't have strangers following you around on the streets or any popular sightseeing spots selling items or young children making hungry faces and then asking you for money.
Interesting part of the world! I thought that you wouldn’t be allowed to go there! I agree, it’s a hard question. Things need to be upgraded for people who live there, but at the same time it’s nice to keep the heritage. I think it’s like that everywhere! ❤
At the end you questioned about the demolition and new development whether it was to preserve the culture or to attract tourists. Perhaps there's other reasons such as helping the people in this remote region in Xinjiang to improve their quality of lives. I admire that both of you always want to explore the old traditional local culture and neighborhoods from a world traveler's perspective. However, it's also very likely that the locals actually desire to have their neighborhood modernized
Kashgar was once a crucial business center connecting China and Mid-Asia countries. Not any more since the revolt of the Altishahr Khojas in 18th centuries, the political and economical focus has always be on North Xinjiang since then. If Kashgar wants to be prosperous again, it has to regain the role connecting Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Tourism is not going to do a lot to economically uplift the South Xinjiang region.
I think you guys should visit the local Museum to see how their lives were in the past, especially their traditional housing built by mud. Xinjiang has had lot of earthquakes that killed many people living in that mud houses. It's not fair for the locals to live in the dangerous traditional mud houses in order to please you Westerners or tourists in the name of preserving the history, you two can go to the local museums to see that "history".
@@josieliftsthings Cause I has asked the same question as you guys until I saw the living conditions of the local people in the past from museum and documentaries. That's why I ask you guys to visit the local museums to get the answers. Some remote areas still have that kind of abandoned mud houses, I heard Chinese government subsidied their new houses after the earthquakes, you Westerners can't imagine how the Chinese government has help the minority, the thief always believes everybody steals. The genocidal Western governments always think other government, especially Chinese and Communist government, would do the same. It's a simple thing to see but we are blinded by the Western anti-China misinformation to see the simple reason behind or lose the critical thinking to see it.
Please stop being so divisive. “You westerners think THIS” I’m an individual person with my own thoughts and feelings. Please stop telling others what they think.
@@josieliftsthings Yes, the governement subsidied 50% to 100% to the local (dependted on their income level) to improve or rebuild their house up to the morden living or safety standard, this is same to people living in Tibet.
@@josieliftsthings I'm sorry, because China has been stigmatized for a long time, so some of us are very emotional. I like your video very much, and I agree with your point of view. We hope local residents can live a better life, and we don't want some scenic spots to become too commercialized.
I have a brilliant idea. You can travel to those spots that are shown in the game Black Myth: Wu Kong. Yes, many scenes in this game come from the real place. That's really amazing!
Becoming a tourist attraction is also a good thing. It will boost local economy, also show local culture to more people. I hope some of the traditional buildings will be well preserved.
My experience of spending 2 weeks in Xinjiang is witnessing the systematic destruction of the original Uighur culture and replacing it with a Han Chinese one, in the name of modernisation. You have seen the demolition of the old Uighur areas and the construction of a new Chinese city, except where it’s preserved as a tourist attraction for Han Chinese to gaup at the ‘quaint Uighurs’. The mosque in Kashgar is preserved as a museum, but there are no more calls to prayer there. The Dalai Lama has called this process in Tibet “cultural genocide”. I think it’s exactly the same in Xinjiang, especially in Urumqi and Hotan. The Uighur are central Asian people - Turkic in culture, language, food, music, clothing - very different from the Chinese, who are shipped in on generous government grants and tax breaks, to outnumber them. Tragic and criminal, in my opinion.
I recently visited Uzbekistan and it looks and sounds so familiar ! The architecture and the language, you can see the Turk influence ! Thank you for this beautiful video !
I watched a documentary about the old town of Kashgar, where people live in shabby homes without water, electricity, toilets, etc. So, should we keep those conditions for people from outside to tour around their miseries? It is a question.
It's actually pretty easy, just rent a car and drive a couple hours outside the cities if you want to see something more authentic. Locals go on road trips to the country side all the time these days. Xinjiang is huge though, you can drive for hours without seeing anything but shrubs.
Being a Chinese, I visited almost 50 countries, meeting different ppl, some kind and some unkind, yet our Chinese are the kindest to foreigners. China is also the safest place.
Tourists love to see the "authentic buildings" and locals love to live in "modernised buildings". It is the local government's job to balance that by planning and renovating the city at an appropriate speed. Love your authenticity in your video, enjoy your travelling.
Because Xinjiang is located in a dry desert and is an area with many earthquakes, their houses are very easily damaged. We try our best to protect these buildings and restore the local architectural style. In order to allow local residents to live in a safer and more convenient environment, we have to reinforce or rebuild these buildings. If you go further away from the city center, there are still many places that retain the original buildings. The people here deserve good education, perfect medical care, convenient transportation, beautiful environment, and safe housing. Although how to preserve traditional culture and upgrade living standards at the same time is a problem, but the most important thing is that people here are happy.
The implication is “ culture genocide”. They are totally brainwashed by media like sky news Australia. Don’t waste your time and efforts to convince them.
I’ve never watched sky news in my life, I despise Murdoch media. Honestly painting everyone who doesn’t 100% agree with you as brainwashed is…. Well frankly brainwashed activities. Seriously, asking a question of the right way forward = implication of cultural genocide. How pea brained 😂
@@josieliftsthings that’s the narrative day in and day out from sky news Australia and ASPI-so called think tank, actually a propaganda organization from Australia.
Gossip is all day long, but if you don't listen, there will be no gossip. I watched your video from the TikTok and came here specially. Thank you for objectively evaluating Chinese cities. I wish you a happy time in China.
Gossip is all day long, but if you don't listen, there will be no gossip. I watched your video from the TikTok and came here specially. Thank you for objectively evaluating Chinese cities. I wish you a happy time in China🎉
Xinjang used to be a poor region with active separatist groups and sentiments. China stepped in after a decade of armed violence. I think rebuilding Xinjiang is still a work in progress, economical, cultural and political. In essence all the modern places you guys visited in China probably underwent the same process of breaking down and rebuilding. Xinjiang is not an exception in that regard.
Hi ,Josie.I have a little recommendation. You can go to Chongqing(pronounced like Chong Tsing) in China. It’s very Cyberpunk.And the landform is very complicated.I think it’s one of the craziest cities in the world because of its complicated terrain and city construction .You can even see metro going through a building.What's more,the food is one of the best in China. 7:05 It features spice and amazing seasoner.There‘s so many good snacks，like Chongqing xiao mian(Chongqing noodles).
In my view, the demolition of historic buildings is happening all across China, not just in Xinjiang. This phenomenon is more a result of the pursuit of economic growth and profits, rather than something targeting any particular ethnic minority. In fact, ethnic minorities often have more favorable conditions in areas like education and business compared to the Han majority, who make up the vast majority of China's population.
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3:06
The ignorant are fearless!
In the video of Xizang, I was worried about your boyfriend and glad to see him recover.
The local government decided to rebuild the old town because old houses in Kashgar were dangerous to live. They could be ruined in earthquake and Xinjiang is in an earthquake zone.
Everyone is saying mandarin to you. but you respond Uigur to them. This is so funny.
It takes only one mouth to spread rumors, but it takes a lot of effort to refute them
그게 인류의역사다 동서양 고대부터 그런소문때문에 갈등전쟁 무수히있었습니다 맹자가 선악설한게 맞습니다
these days thanks to internet, social media and internet news articles in general, sped up spreading fake news. Trash like China Observers, Serpentza, etc. to Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, FoxNews, etc. Opening up to world for tourism is a great way, especially now that everyone do film
@@호롱방 I always thought Koreans believed everything the Western media said🤣
@@qiuxiang-e3s 한국인들 서양인들이 말하면 무엇이든지 믿는거맞습니다 완전 꼭두각시된거처럼 걱정입니다
Adrin Zen is the one mouth.
Welcome to my hometown! I hope you can discover the real Xinjiang during your travels and see beyond the lies spread by Western media and politicians. We have over 20 ethnic minorities here, all living harmoniously together, with various religions and cultures blending and respecting each other. While the modernization of our cities may not be as advanced as Beijing or Shanghai, you will still find everything you need here. Xinjiang boasts delicious food, warm-hearted people, and heavenly beautiful scenery. Urumqi is also considered one of the safest cities in the country， warmly welcome you to visit!
It's really useless to say so much, don't Westerners know that it's fake news? They know that they are bad and not stupid
What about the documented mass detention and human rights abuse in Uyghur internment camps?
@@slimturnpike Did you witness these things with your own eyes? If you don't have the ability to personally verify what you heard there, please close your mouth
@@puchong4129 I've read the reports from the UN Human Rights Office and human rights groups who have collected eyewitness testimonies, including those of former detainees. That trumps your naivete, so you can shut your mouth, your feeble protests . Facts don't care about your feelings or your ill-placed patriotism, sorry.
@@slimturnpike If you think what the Western media say is right, then you should go to Xinjiang to experience it for yourself and interview the local elders, then you will understand everything instead of speculating here
From north to south, east to west of China, you two had almost traveled the whole China! Respect! Xinjiang is the mental hometown of me as a southern Chinese❤
Thank you! What a beautiful country to travel, too - we have so much left to do in the future still!
@@josieliftsthingsI’m sure there’s MORE to see! Looking forward to more videos of your travel. Have you gone to Southern China, Fujian province? It’s the place where a large percentage of Chinese tea leaves come from.
@@josieliftsthings 太多太多地方可以去玩了， 一般外国人我看到的去玩的是北京上海广州深圳成都重庆，然后一些会去新疆，还有大理丽江泸沽湖（但是可能错过了热带城市西双版纳）。 但是还有很多地方，比如去内蒙古体验草原风光，去贵州苗寨体验苗族的生活，去海南岛体验海岛生活，去安徽挖化石以及游览卡斯特溶洞，等等。中国每个省都有独特的地方，太多太多可以玩的了。
@@josieliftsthings😂😂 half of these ppl were speaking Mandarin to you with local accent, kid ask were u from and you just replied I don't understand. U understand. Is the checkpoint here worse than Benjing?
@@josieliftsthings你只去了一些比较知名的地方，如果有时间，还可以深入的了解一下中国的其他知名度低的地方，特别是少数民族的地区，会有不一样的体验
从你第一次蹲在上海机场开始，到再次进入中国。一直有关注，感谢你通过自身影响力让更多人了解真实的中国。如果时间允许，也欢迎你来到我的家乡东北辽宁
If you ask the local people, their income has been doubled, tripled or even quadrupled bacaused of the modernization. I have been living in Australia for nearly 18 years. Xinjiang used to be poor area in China and now it's catching up. There is still long way to go. The government has a lot of favourable policy to minorities. I still remember that they can go to Uni with less scores than Han people. Back then, I didn't think it's fair. But now I understand the government has just been trying to support them.
More importantly, the China's One Child Policy was not applicable to the minorities they can have as many children as they want. The Western media painted it like it applied to the entire population but in truth it only applied to the Han Chinese.
It’s similar to education policies for First Nations students in Australia.
More importantly, the China's One Child Policy was only applicable to Han Chinese as for the Minorities they were not affected by this policy they can have as many children they wanted. However, the Western media painted as if this policy was applicable across the entire population.
@@anitaling3394 similar in, like, completely different
喀什的腾飞才刚刚开始,中吉乌铁路马上开工了,建成后喀什就是大型陆路口岸城市了.
The first buns you buy are called baked buns. Because most of the population in Xinjiang are Muslims, the baked buns are filled with beef or mutton. When roasting, they will sprinkle some salt water on the wall of the pit, and the temperature inside can reach above Thousand degrees, so try to open it before eating. There will be many large salt grains at the bottom of the baked buns. It is best to remove them before eating.
they are called samsa in uyghur
Thank you!!!
I have lived in Xinjiang for a year(2018.9-2019.9) and have been to almost all counties. I know many friends of Uyghur, Mongolian, and Tajik ethnic groups. I miss the beautiful scenery, delicious food, and friends there. I will go there again❤
I am Dutch Chinese and I love following your channel. You have the most innocent and neutral way of showing China to the world, even the most sensitive misunderstood places. Thank you for doing this
作为一个旅居澳大利亚中国人，很高兴看到美丽的新疆重新归于安宁。不同民族和睦相处，老百姓安居乐业比什么都好强！
I have been to Xinjiang for a total of 27 days, and have been to maybe half of the scenic spots, and yet i still feel i have to go back again just for the beautiful sceneries along the way. Im so happy foreign youtubers are finally visiting the 2 major cities, but if only you could do a road trip from the northern part of Altar, all the way down to Tashkurgan, you will see natural sights from green trees, green grass, lakes, to dessert basins. We in China have a saying that why go to Europe when you have Xinjiang? You can see grasslands and mountains just like in the Sounds of Music in Nalati Grassland, you will see the largest desert in China in Taklimakan desert. That's why a road trip in Xinjiang is a must, hopefully y'all can experience what Xinjiang has to offer other than Urumqi and Kashgar!
Hey Josie, rebuilding communities has nothing to do with tourism. People want to live in a modern city while preserving their cultures in their own chosen way. Culture IS NOT old buildings. Culture is people, culture is how these people choose to express themselves and live. Just because buildings and areas are renovated, DOES NOT MEAN the history is erased. This is too simplistic and tourist like thinking.
exactly right
Soooo Uncool.......
Also, they renovated the houses but still tried to reserve the old style... They seriously prefer them just living in their shitty old houses with leaking roofs or what
New buildings do not necessarily mean that culture is erased, but you cannot say that old buildings cannot represent culture.😅 Old buildings are often witnesses to history, carrying the architectural styles, craftsmanship, and lifestyles and value systems of specific periods. For example, ancient palaces and temples, with their exquisite carvings and unique layouts, reflect the aesthetic standards and religious beliefs of the time and are a concrete representation of culture. Old buildings are like a series of three-dimensional history books, recording past cultural achievements. How can they not represent culture?
The new generation wants to live in modern houses, just like you do. You can't expect people to live in old houses built decades ago with mud, just so you can experience the culture when you visit.
Thanks.❤❤❤
Once you understand why some countries cannot find genocide in Gaza, then you immediately understand why they can find genocide in Xinjiang.
Spot on
It is sad and pity to those using political agenda to smother their consciences!
So true😂😂😂
Guessing this means the news on gaza isn't true. I'm so open minded. I know the news is fake.
Fuck islam
Very rare to see this footage on media or news bulletin. Thanks for showing this to everyone. Beautiful hidden community.
Glad you enjoyed it
I completely agree with the latter part of the video discussing whether buildings with traditional cultural characteristics should undergo modernization. For tourists, this allows them to experience the pure local culture. However, for local residents, it often means dealing with poor sanitation, outdated infrastructure, and higher fire risks. Everyone has the right to enjoy modern living. While urban renewal may cause us to lose certain elements, it significantly improves the lives of those who live there.
Yes, I guess they didn't visit the local Museum to see how their lives were in the past, especially their housing built by mud. Xinjiang has had lot of earthquakes that killed people living that mud houses. It's fair for the locals living in the dangerous mud houses in order to please or tourists in the name of preserving the history, they can go to museums to see that "history".
Why would going to a curated museum be something I would do if the point that was shared is to go there and see what it’s actually like? That is quite literally the opposite of what should be done. We literally said they have the right to live in safe houses, I have no idea why you pick and choose what you want to listen to fit your own narrative. It’s so strange.
@@josieliftsthings A very simple question, you should interview local people in Kashgar whether they are satisfied with today's development life, or whether they should retain houses damaged by the earthquake, or convenient development of transportation and houses. Kashgar people will tell you the answer.
i think the locals should be answering that question, but I know what the answer is. Everyone wants a new updated house with running water, toilets and safe wiring. I'd take a new house here in Canada and trade in my old one in a heartbeat. The majority doesn't want to live in a 500 year old house unless it's a palace. For tourists, they want to see them in huts or mudhouse or draped in leopard skin if possible just so they can enjoy the authentic exotic culture for a few hours, but for the ppl who will have to live there 365 days a year and have seen the authetic culture all their lives, they'd prefer newer and better amenities.
@@仗劍天涯-j9c There is absolutely no chance I would do that and potentially put anyone at risk.
Because Xinjiang is located in an earthquake zone, you can find that there are frequent earthquakes in Xinjiang, and the frequency of earthquakes is even once every two or three days. Most of the houses are built with mud and bricks, which are no longer suitable for human habitation. Just like Nepal, when an earthquake comes, all the historical relics rooms collapse, so the government needs to rebuild and reinforce the houses to avoid this problem.
That makes sense why they tore it down
Agree. When buildings are unsafe they have to be torn down and rebuilt. It seems it’s impossible to please everyone. No matter what they do there will be criticism of some type. If buildings are unsafe and torn down, they are criticized for tearing it down but if they were not torn down and people are killed due to unsafe conditions then they will be criticized for that too. I like Josie but it seems like they’re trying too hard to look for something to feel uneasy about. I say stop judging. The residents are safe and happy, That’s all that matters. Yes, it’s touristy, that’s part of the poverty alleviation program..to boost economy in the region so that people’s lives are better. Or would you rather see them poor? There are other regions in Xinjiang that are less touristy/less visited, you can visit those places.
@@palmpalm5131they just want people living in poverty to show their sympathy......
that's true
客观讲还是以色列清理历史建筑更厉害。
Been to Xinjiang twice in 2018 and 2019, just feel that young people are full of confidence and with their bright future. It is because they have been given vocational training according to their interests. Many of them said they are using these trainings to earn a living and support their family. They want to save enough money so that they can run their own business in the near future. 👍👍👍
GREAT video! my favorite city Kashgar!!! there may be some chaos in the past few years but for now XINJIANG is absolutely a safe and incredible place to travel and live
Yes, you are right!
If you are still in Xinjiang, at 16:09 the melon you point at is the famous "laohan"melon [老汉瓜], which is a must-try sweet melon if you are still in Xinjiang. Not necessary the best taste but the rarest species not cultivated anywhere else, also a melon impossible to transport, thus only a local delicacy.
Haha thank you!! I didn’t know that!
lol. now you'll get tons of message like 'why don't you go to the concentration camp' blah blah blah. Don't waste your time on those ignorance Josie. You can't show anything to those who don't want to open their eyes. tha fact that you can go to Xinjiang, with camera in your hand, meeting all the Uyghurs, and roam freely, speak louder than them.
Not quite sure about foreigners, but at least Taiwanese residents are able to hire cars in Xinjiang as shown in some of the RUclips videos. So technically anyone can hire a car in Xinjiang to drive around to check those assumed camps if they like.
@@ozsharpener let's be honest, if genocide really happened in Xinjiang, do you really think tourist can enter Xinjiang, and filmed everything around?
Also everyone use their phones to pay, so that’s over 12 millions phone cameras yet no video evidence of any camps or suppression in Xinjiang
@@rudyalfonsus686 No disagreement. Obviously there is no genocide in Xinjiang.
Mr. Ma Kaishuo, the former Singaporean ambassador to the United Nations, a famous scholar and diplomat, said: The United States doesn't like Muslims, let alone Gaza Muslims, but the United States is particularly concerned about Muslims in Xinjiang, China!😂😂😂
Omg we were here last week!! A beautiful part of China and the food was insane!!!!😋
you guys should have a co-op series of videos about China.
She didn't like or comments on your comments, hmm. Why?
I think she is copying you two. If she does Tashkurgan next...
I get literally tens of thousands of comments daily. Grow up.
I was in Kashgar 2 months ago bud. Your intelligence is questionable.
我真的很好奇，西方媒体到底对新疆是一个怎样的抹黑程度？新疆真的很美啊，有雪山、隔壁沙漠、绿洲、森林、草原，自然景观美不胜收，以及独特的西域人文风情和饮食文化，欢迎大家去新疆去揭开她的神秘面纱。
emmm...首先关于中国 西媒通篇只关注中国是共产党执政国家 然后所有共产主义国家都被宣传成朝鲜和斯大林时代的苏联 不能有任何差异 所以对中国本来就印象奇差 再具体到新疆 大概就是说咱们在新疆设立集中营 先洗脑 洗不干净的就拉出去枪毙 政府不管百姓死活只想统治压榨 所以新疆应该是纳粹集中营和非洲殖民地的结合体 总之就是比加沙还要可怕的地方 因为加沙在他们的媒体中都是轻描淡写的小冲突
任何对少数民族地区的指责最后都会将这亦或有亦或无的矛头引向普通的汉族民众群体。中国已经堕落成为资本主义国家。但仍有地缘敌人对中国发起无谓的攻击，本质上是在中国放弃意识形态斗争后继续暴露下一步的目的--反对汉族的存在。
To be totally honest, you rarely hear about Xinjiang in Australian media. I’d never heard of it before. My desire to go and see it came from American commenters telling me I couldn’t/wouldnt.
@@josieliftsthingsLovely.
@@josieliftsthings The so-called genocide in Xinjiang originated from a false report fabricated by the Australian think tank ASPI
I hate to say this, but I really don't like the mentality of those self-serving travelers complaining about not seeing the old style of life. The city/town is not a museum or a zoo. It' is a place where people live. Changes are inevitable. People love to see the culture and flock to the region. A dedicated part of the city is preserved to look old. Locals try to make a better life by earning tourist money. Given a choice, everyone would opt for modern sewage system, safe power supply, fire proof building and so on. As a visitor, complaining about the modernisation is a bit rich. Old market with dirt track and floppy canopy is not the most enviable way of living. Taking it down for having a better place for trade is nothing wrong IMHO. Mind you, these Ughur people don't live in a confined place, aka a sanctuary. They have every rights to live a life as good as any other Chinese nationals. When I went to Oz, I didn't expect all people wearing their shackles and ushered by prison guards.
Maybe you need to rewatch and listen to what was actually said, because your points are in agreeance with us,
We’re allowed to lament what modernisation brings (or removes) whilst simultaneously understanding and agreeing it’s what’s best for locals you know? There IS depth to topics.
@@josieliftsthings 点赞
can not agree more
well... my mum told me when she were young and living in a old Chinese style wooden house. One family got fire,the whole street got fire. For the people who live there, deserve something new❤😊
Yep, agree ☺️
Whatever the Chinese government does in Xinjiang will always be looked at with suspicion by the West. The problem does not lie with the Chinese government; it lies with Western culture. One thing that sets Western culture apart from Chinese culture is the strong sense of ethnonationalism in the West, which has traditionally been one of the driving forces shaping European history for the past several millennia, and the weak sense of ethnonationalism (though strong nationalism) in Chinese culture. The strong sense of ethnonationalism in Western culture is the real reason why the West is convinced that the Chinese government has sinister motives against the Uighurs or Tibetans. Westerners project their understanding of human behavior onto cultures very different from their own and explain them in terms of their own historical experience. This is why allegations of Uighur and Tibetan oppression are widely accepted as truth-because Westerners would immediately "get it" upon hearing it. Westerners who are skeptical of this perspective can conduct a reverse experiment: they can find a fluent English-speaking Chinese person and explain to them the historical antisemitism in Europe or the historical Irish experience with the English. That Chinese person would have no idea what they are talking about because there is no similar historical experience in Chinese history to draw upon. Until Westerners internalize this difference between the two cultures, the Chinese government will have to put up with this nonsense for years to come.
Never trust Communist
I fully agree with your take but i think this is only the reason why these rumours are so easily propogated within western societies, not how and where they were originated. The history behind is rather simple. In the old days when the information flows around more slowly, there was that branch of Islam that tried to radicalize the entire Islamic world, tauten emotions and exploit their ignorance so to support their radical causes. The entire world faced the problem, so did China. China had to take actions just like everywhere in the world, the west, the middle east, and south-east asia. The west waged wars, and China went into Xingjiang to clear the cancer of Islamic radicalism.
When things quiet down, however, the west suddenly realized that this is a great and easy story to spin (due to the cultural characteristics mentioned in your analysis). The western politicians and media started to populate and weave the web of lies around Xinjiang to defame and undermine the Chinese government, to further their political agenda.
So i disagree with you on the last part of your analysis. I don't think westerners would ever internalize the difference, and i don't think after even they have a better understanding of Chinese culture, they will side with Chinese government or Chinese soceity. This is an information warfare, and no one will let their puppets loose.
They also failed to realize that the govern of Xinjiang is Uyghur and Kazakh minorities
Well said, the entire western culture is built based on colonialism. If you look at any western history, you’ll see nothing about 2 cultures co-existing, NEVER. It’s always white supremacy white culture 😂 the idea of 2 ethnicity, let alone 56 ethnicities in one country, is just impossible in the west
You are wrong. The root of the problem is not cultural differences, but the intention to suppress the Chinese government and occupy the high ground of public opinion so that they can export various ideologies unscrupulously.
I watched the first minute of the video and I already wanna say you’re doing a wonderful thing, to show people what China is really like. I hope you enjoy the journey!
❤️❤️
西方看到的真相就是外部支助的分裂势力渗透进入新疆，制造恐怖事件。这些被金钱收买的恐怖分子被ccp镇压，在ccp看来就是恐怖分子，在西方媒体看来就是自由民主战士。这同911恐怖分子被镇压有什么区别，典型的双标。😂
The rice in the large cooking device is pilaf (called polu in Uyghur, and Zhuafan in Mandadrin) or plov in Uzbek.
It's extremely delicious, made from lamb cooked in rice with garlic and thoroughly well cooked baby carrots that taste like sweet honey treats.
Super super delicious and its a dish that's extremely popular staple in Central Asia and China's muslim communities.
We call it pilaf too in Greece 🇬🇷
Great video! Regarding the last part, I shall say it is really hard to balance modernizing and preserving old buildings. As an urban planner and landscape architect, I've participated in many historical restoration and reserve projects in China, especially in Xi'an, where I come from.
Firstly, many historical buildings, particularly residential ones, are quite fragile and severely damaged. This is mainly because the construction materials used were not primarily stone, combined with factors such as natural disasters, wars, and earthquakes. Consequently, the number of historical buildings, especially for normal residential houses, that can still be used after simple modern renovations is not as high as people might imagine. Therefore, many urban areas in China have been newly constructed to meet residents' needs.
Secondly, due to the aforementioned reasons, many ordinary residential buildings are not as historically old as people might think. Most were built in the past century, and the wars, social upheaval, and economic underdevelopment of the last hundred years have resulted in poor building quality and conditions. The significance of renovating and preserving such buildings is quite limited.
Thirdly, the preservation and renovation of historical buildings are time-consuming and costly endeavors. For many economically underdeveloped regions, this poses a significant burden. As improving people's living conditions needs to be prioritized, more money and time are spent on more efficient reconstruction. However, buildings that are well-preserved or hold high historical value are still given considerable attention for repair and renovation. These buildings are generally found more in developed areas, where both the government and individuals can afford the time and money required for their restoration and preservation.
So..yes, balancing this issue is indeed challenging. As an urban planner, I genuinely hope every building can be properly renovated and preserved. However, as a resident, I also desire for living conditions to improve as quickly as possible. You might not have seen the rural area in China 30 years ago. Take Xi'an, for example. Many residential houses in small countries around Xi'an were made of earth, wood, or brick, and they may look quaint and historical, but in reality, they were often less than 100 years old. Older ones were destroyed long ago. These houses generally had poor conditions and numerous safety hazards, with minimal historical value.
The residents living in these houses were often eager to build new homes, construct better roads, and improve their quality of life. Therefore, considerations are often more people-centred, necessitating some trade-offs.
Schools in Xinjiang have been teaching in Uyghur language, and Uyghurs continue to preserve their traditional culture, whether it's food, clothing, language, or dance. Even Uyghurs who have moved to Beijing and Shanghai enjoy dancing Xinjiang dance in local parks. Even though the truth is here, there are still people who say that the Chinese government is destroying their culture, which is sad.
ecause the world is not stupid they know the insidious and repressive racist nature of the Chinese Han . the Han lies, cheat and hides . they have never been a frank race . they will HIDE AND DECEIVE until they are CONFRONTED WITH THEIR LIES AND CHEATING.
I think they are just only not allowed to be independent.
@@vapaus831 Historically, Xinjiang, like Taiwan, has never been an independent country. It’s just that now Western countries are deliberately encouraging them to undermine China’s development.
I'm so happy u guys show the truth to the people. My grandma is a Uyghur from Xinjiang, when I was a child, my parents were very busy with work. my grandma raised me. She and her friends are very grateful to the government and made many good policies to help Xinjiang.
The income and living standards of Xinjiang people have doubled several times in 20years. Xinjiang students have lower scores than Chinese students who need to take the Chinese sat. Many policies and training help us develop agriculture, manufacturing and tourism. All Xinjiang people are grateful to the government and love our motherland.
I'm so confused Y the Western media “knows ”Xinjiang better than ourselves. We like our life ,We love our motherland very much.I hope those western media can shut fck up and leave us alone.
Hi! I grew up in Parramatta and now I live in Hong Kong. Great channel, love the vids.
I think Michael made a good point in saying that people have a right to modernization.
When I travel, I also like to see genuine historical things, but if those genuine historical things are in disrepair or lack basic amenity (noting china not long ago wasnt a very wealthy place), then the people from those places should have the right to have new things.
I'm saying that if an ancient way of living is totally lost, due to progress - and as long as folks are prospering and happy - it may be a shame from a tourist point of view. But people have the right to live better lives, rather than being novelties to the first world.
Yep it’s a complex scenario - I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer. As long as good intentions are the forefront of any change, that’s the best outcome I think. Thanks for watching! We miss Hong Kong, have to go back soon!
@@josieliftsthings do drop by again! Btw - the place where you got the pineapple bun (happy bakery) is actually really famous for their egg tarts, best if you can go during the day to get it fresh ~ Bake house is good, but not authentically HK style.
I believe the old town of Kashgar was hit by an earthquake. The local government took the opportunity to rebuild it with modern building materials and made it a bit wider.
That's bollocks. They knocked it down. I was there when it was being demolished.
@@jbennison5672 You are talking nonsense. The rebuilding was part of the poverty alleviation program. It was documented and videoed by other RUclipss. Many of the buildings have pictures of buildings before and after the earthquake plastered on the side of the wall. It reminds people of the devastating effects of earthquakes.
If you were there, you must have known that the local government had to help the people whose home was destroyed by the earthquake.
yes, it's touristic in that area, because Xinjiang has been working to boost it's economy, and domestic tourism is massive in China. People are happy especially in that area as tourism is very lucrative, and who wouldn't be happy making money for their families.
Regarding the rebuilding of infrastructure. it's not just fire, but earthquakes.
In 2008 there was a massive earthquake in China which KILLED 70,000 people, it was a massive disaster which caused China to re-asses the countries infrastructure. Xinjiang had many places which were very dangerous if there was an earthquake, especially the old towns, with many of the buildings made from weak clay/mud bricks. you can google the images of them. Xinjiang is prone to earthquakes, they occur every 3-5 years. there was an lethal earthquake in Xinjiang this year in January, which displaced 12,400 people and killed 3. it could have been worse.
The kid trying to talk to you knows 3 languages! They are really well-educated kids
They really are. That will never not impress me!
@@josieliftsthings There are children who ask you where the questions come from in Xinjiang, there are children who ask you what you are doing in Mandarin, and there are children who say goodbye to you in English. Hahaha
I also heard a child say 'stupid' in Japanese, of course, this is not malicious. They may only know one or two sentences of Japanese, you know
@@haolin6678 你仔细听，还有个说韩语的。XXX思密达。
@@haolin6678 Yes, that was the first Japanese I learned as a child.
a lot of people in Xinjiang can speak both mandarin and local language（uyghur）. So most of the people are speaking mandarin to you, hope you can understand them. Almost each provice has its own language （such as Sichuan, Henan,Guangzhou,Xinjiang,Xizang, etc ）in China, like I from north cannot understand the local language in Shanghai, so we always speak mandarin in different areas.
I loved the look of this city- the quaint acc, the picturesque colourful streets and the friendly people. I enjoyed watching this video a lot - thank you.
One video is worth a million words! Thank you! ❤
When the Western media tells you something, it's safe to assume the otherwise 🤣
If they tells you something bad about another country, it's safe to assume that's what west countries do/did/have done.
spot on !!! 😁
I’m an American and sadly for the most part this is true
indonesian,just stfu
@@dlw1659 wumao stop pretending
Actually China wants to improve the economy of Xinjiang through modernization, just look at Urumqi.
Ini kota, kuno😊 tetap di pertahankan😊
Wish you guys could extend your stay in Xinjiang to show more and enjoy the local hospitality. A revisit should be in your bucket list.
Enjoy much of your vlogs! Happy safe travelling to you two.
Xinjiang, fruit paradise of China, you have to try those in season and matured in the field, they taste totally different from those you buy from supermarkets with a loooong supply chain.
Sometimes I just feel fruits in Xinjiang just too sweet.
This is such a thought-provoking video! And touching also. Thank you for making these gorgeous videos! You guys always showed respect for the local culture wherever you go. Support you guys no matter what
Wow what a beautiful comment to receive. Thank you so much! Your support means so much to me 🥰🤍🙏
Awesome. I’m buy you a coffee. You are become a famous traveler in China social media
你现在在的地方是新疆的南部主要是人文文化。 新疆的北部接近哈萨克斯塔主要是自然风光、 非常美丽 有草原 雪山和森林、和瑞士风景一样
OMG this is my dream city I keen to visit. Food especially .
very well said at the last there, everyone is welcomed to China including Xinjiang, to explore and experience with their own eyes.
Culture is defined by its people. Even if your house is being renovated, it doesn't mean you'll lose the time and memories you've shared with your family, and you will continue to build new memories with them in the new houses.
Since elementary schools, we all learn to sing this one song with lyrics translates to “Fifty-six ethnic groups are one family, and fifty-six languages come together in one sentence”, we may look different dress differently and speaks different languages, but we are united and recognize each other as one family, that has become a deeply ingrained belief and core value for us.
Please continue to make these honest videos and feel free to express your opinions, China is massive and there are many places yet for you guys to explore, hope you guys enjoyed your time travelling in China! All the best🎉
Wow your vlogs continue to amaze me. I love watching all parts of China.
Happy to hear that! ☺️☺️😁
@@josieliftsthings感谢你客观公正的像大家展现真实的新疆！中国人民永远欢迎你们！❤❤❤
It’s not part of china.. it’s illegally occupied
Please tell your audience that u r capturing what they allow you. Please don misinterprets for ur own benefit. Be more responsible if u r real human with intelligent
@@Bethechange911 不知道是不是被你们国家媒体洗脑，洗的太严重了，先把你们自己国家的事管好再说，中国人民很友善
@@Bethechange911 ur brainwahsed by western media. go read some history
I understand what Mike says about modernization, but also keep in mind that modernization brings jobs and wealth to the area, which helps the population to grow and more importantly, STAY in their home. If you travel to the villages, outside of the cities, you'll find all the tradition and culture that you want. You'll also find it's mostly populated by seniors and elders while all the young adults and children have moved out to live in the cities because there's no room for growth in villages not touched by modernization. Like you said, China is a giant land mass, so they don't need to build their modernization on top of existing infrastructure and risk the safety of existing, old foundations. They can literally raze and rebuild a safe and strong structure from the ground up. Travel out of the city, maybe have a local invite you to their home and you can still see the existing old traditions have not been erased.
Josie , there's always two sides to a coin and as travelers I believe you guys have seen and realized (somehow) why Kashgar or just like any other cities needed to be modernized. It is for the people's livelihood. Some things must be given up to progress. They may have developed and modernized Kashgar but Xinjiang people have still preserved their culture and tradition. Just because their buildings had been rebuilt doesn't mean that the people are forgetting their history or the government is erasing their heritage.
Maybe some Uyghur didn't like the modernization and some love it. The government cannot please everyone. The government's focus is to elevate people's standard of living. Making it a tourist spot with new buildings make the city more attractive and safer while still preserving their culture. The tourists places will never be authentic anymore if you only go those type of areas. Just like any other cities in China , they are a representation of the past just a modern take of how they used to be... if you go outside of these tourist places, you will still see some of the old structures especially the Unesco World Heritages. I just hoped that you planned a longer time in Xinjiang. One month is not even enough to explore the province and fully understand Xinjiang and its people.
Well stated. 5000 years and Chinese ancient cultures and heritage have thrived. As a westerner, aside from religion... Dunno can't even think of anything. What did we eat 500 years ago? Did we wear suits and ties to weddings?
In the 70’s , British government removed the people in Hong Kong poor areas. Because the environment. We’re not safe! Why they can do that and same reason Chinese government can’t?
I want to thank you very much for showing the things explored by your mind to all the viewers through the entire video.❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Thank you for sharing your honest experiences!
Thank you for your comment!
I think most of the people in the comment area may not have been to Xinjiang. I grew up in Xinjiang. The 7.5 incident in 10 years happened in front of my house, Nanmen Square, Erdao Bridge. Later, a car bomb hit the morning market on Park North Street, which was also frequented by my grandparents. On that day, many innocent old men and women who visited the morning market were killed. I think I have a certain say in this matter. First of all, another very important reason for the establishment of the education camp is to let some minority villages in southern Xinjiang receive education (there are many purely minority villages in the south, and education in Xinjiang itself is lacking. Some villages have no education level at all, do not understand the outside, and are easy to be brainwashed by terrorist organizations. In addition to language, the education camp will also teach skills, such as electricians and bricklayers, including computers). Education is very important. The meaning of this sentence is that you are all high-level people, and I don't need to explain more. However, it is undeniable that there are problems of infringement of personal freedom and deprivation of rights. You may feel righteous and indignant, especially after reading these media reports. But as a personal experiencer, I have read both domestic and foreign reports in the past few years, and now I feel that it is understandable enough. People will be afraid. If you live a peaceful life for decades, suddenly one day someone will cut you with a knife on the street, kill your family with a car bomb, and you have to hide at home to save your life. Such an experience, once, will be remembered for a lifetime, and you will tell yourself that I can't believe him. I will beat him to death, so that he won't do the same thing one day. From this perspective, try to think about the behavior of the government and regulators. There are also elements of human nature here. Don't think one-sidedly.
你可能经历过七五事件 但我那时候在新疆上学 清楚的记得那是2009年 包括后面断网一年的经历。
Many Uyghur people involved in terrorist attacks have not been punished by law, and the Chinese government is just trying to reason with them. The Uyghur population has grown from 2 million in 1949 to 12 million now, with per capita income higher than China's average level. A large number of mosques have been renovated and newly built. Why would such a living condition still serve extremist organizations? Later on, the Chinese government provided funding to send Uyghur children to big cities for better education, and many Uyghur families eagerly enrolled in the education program. Because Chinese people attach great importance to education, both Han and Uygur people hope their children will have a better life in the future.
Very good comment, yes there are indeed violations in the region, just as war crimes in by US committed by George W Bush and his troops. The problem I have with the western media reporting is the intention. It's often very one sided and it's purpose is to put China in the worst light possible not for the benefits of the victims, but for the geopolitical gains for nations that reports it. It is used as a tool to put a wedge between the Muslim world and China( which it did not succeed as most of those nations see the sidious intention)
Xinjiang has heavy armed police presence and strict security policy because of the 2009 terrorist attack in Urumuqi. The grand bazzar for example never even had security checks prior to that. You could just walk straight in and out.
thank you for making this video josie! 💛
Yeah the old town is quite touristy. Though if you guys walk beyond the district you can find more old architectures and ancient structures. I mean I'm preaching to the choir here.
at 10:33 and 17:40
that's the Id Kah Mosque which was and is the largest mosque in XJ. It's gorgeous now and a center of community dances and festivals but in the early 2010s it was very dangerous because a terrorist attack happened there. But now the area is much safer.
Josie and the curious watchers- if you guys want to see rural and more traditional unchanged part of XJ try to go to Turpan, it's still very classical, it's filled with vineyards in the area (Uyghurs have an ancient tradition of winemaking that dates back in Tocharian times and pre- Han dynasty and pre- Roman times) and you can also see the Loulan ancient city ruins, it was a vast city and once was a key stop on the ancient Silk Road.
If you guys want to see what Turpan and rural XJ is like Katherine's Journey to the East did a great gonzo backpacker's coverage of it on her bike: She's quite regularly back and lives in CN atm.
中國就在到這裡，歡迎全世界朋友來中國發掘真相，別再抹黑中國
矿物油香吗？
你要是把我们扣住怎么办？开玩笑的，不过我认识的很多外国人，甚至包括有些中国人都这么认为。中国缺乏司法独立，透明和程式化也确实是事实。就好比很多中国人都搞不清孟晚舟和俩个迈克尔都是抓人有什么不同。不同就在于司法系统的独立，透明和程式化。
@@7212372frank 至少说明中国有新闻自由
厉害
@user-ij7gc5cw3o 支持友友
Another wonderful, amazing video- you continue to crank out great content. Thank you for sharing
❤️❤️
What lovely people you met, both locals and visitors!❤
They are!
West boycott Xinjiang so Xinjiang people can live a better life? I don’t understand the logic behind it.
US and EU has market Xinjiang for few years now, and has drawn 12 million tourists to Xinjiang in 2023 alone. 😂
Right now, Xinjiang is famous and a must see destination for tourist.
西方视中东穆斯林的生命为草芥，却比谁都关注新疆穆斯林的人权
Does the west care about Muslims in Afghanistan, Iraq and Gaza? Why only Muslims in Xinjiang. If Muslims from those places could come to live in Xinjiang, I think they would be very happy
they are punishing uighur
Western Governments are run by brainless politicians who have no idea how other people think and actually behave when faced by adversity. They believe in their own hubris and prejudices and thus, formulate their own plans according to what they believe they themselves may do if they are to lose their jobs (ie they'll blame their own government and so, they think by making Uyghurs lose their jobs, they will blame the CPC Government).
They don't realize that the Uyghurs are more aware of the outside world in the U.S. than the U.S. believes and that the Uyghurs are perfect aware that they have been targeted by the Americans.
And so, when their jobs are jeopardised by American sanctions and embargoes, they learn to hate the Americans - especially when they see how their own government has bought up their cotton that they have been unable to sell because of the American trade sanctions. The same thing goes for their solar panels and any other product that they have been engaged in and sales affected by the American actions.
The politicians in the West are insanely idiotic when they think that by attacking the people in Tibet and Xinjiang, they will hate their own CPC Government. It is a twisted logic that makes no sense - and points to an inability to learn from their own mistakes. For example, they believe that when they bomb their enemies, their enemies will turn around and hate their own government or their society will disintegrate and become chaotic. However, all evidence has shown since WW2 that the opposite has occurred - whether it was the Germans who bombed London or the British Bomber Command bombing Germany or in the Vietnamese War when the Americans were bombing the Vietnamese "back to the Stone Age" or bombing the Taliban in Afghanistan - none of those tactics worked in the way that the side bombing the other believed that the civilian population would behave.
So, in summary, the way in which Western politicians DO NOT THINK is legendary. They are unable to understand that "you attract more bees to your hives with honey than with vinegar" - and so, they sanction, they embargo, they restrict trade, they rob others of a livelihood, they make others suffer and they bomb. 😅😂😁
You’re going to have 1M subscribers soon, congratulations. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻And you deserve it by all the efforts you put into 👍🏻
Life for the Uyghurs had been good for the last 10+ years. Especially when Xi jinping had appointed one of his closest subordinate to be in-charge of Xinjiang, more resources will be poured into Xinjiang to help it develop faster. The one-belt-one-road which is now linking up the central Asian countries, Xinjiang will be the trading hub of China & Central Asia which will bring more opportunities for the Uyghurs. Young Uyghurs had better education then their parents and wanted more opportunities and Xinjiang will be different in another 10~20 years.
Yes, people felt that it is sad that Kasghar is going to be renovated to be more 'touristy' but if the locals want it that way so that they can make more money from tourism, what can we say? Uyghurs were like everybody in the world who hoped for a better life. They might hope to change their environment for better living standards and who are we to tell them how they should live like.
Kashgar is the Chinese version of Samarkand In Uzbekistan, I think. And I'm lucky that I've been to both cities.
热带风味😂
The kids were speaking mandarin, and asking "what are you doing hear?"
Hey josie , you may be have forgotten me , but i'm the guy that commented on the Best Banh Mi in Vietnam back in 2022, and i would say that you have been rising so much and i didnt even believe in my eyes ,since in 2022 you were almost unknown and now being one of the biggest travelers on youtube,so thats all i wanted to say,wish you the best and have fun in travelling in Asia and all around the world .
Wow. Thank you so much!!! That was so long ago - it is so crazy that you have known of my channel for so long, and that you remember me!
Thank you so much for this comment - it made me think about where I came from today and definitely made my day that you remember me and my videos from back then.
Thank you so much! 😊😊
There's a good saying“It's not lies that cut but the sharpness of the truth” That's why you can freely discuss Xinjiang and are forbidden to discuss Gaza
Who is forbidden to discuss Gaza?
Thanks so much to make visit a glimpse of the people of classical culture and history and grateful for your outright and bold opinions.
2017年，新疆塔什库尔干县5.5级地震截至11时已造成8人遇难、23人受伤，5个较严重的地区受灾群众共2460户、1.2万人，受灾最严重的塔什库尔干乡库仔贡村220户、1520间土坯房屋全部倒塌。
新疆还有很多次地震，泥土房子全倒塌。泥土房已经不适合现代人类居住。
In China, there is usually a complete reconstruction plan, such as what needs to be preserved and what needs to be rebuilt.
Just like the place you mentioned that is rebuilt as a "tourist attraction", it is actually a place that is renovated while retaining the original building, while other places may need to be demolished and rebuilt. Kashgar is a desert city, and it has nothing to produce. The only thing that can allow local people to live a better life is tourism. So, you can't be disappointed by what they built for tourists.
Similarly, preserving history is a good thing, but you can't let local people still live in history just because it preserves history. This is the meaning of urban reconstruction.
@@keepingittight Or Australians with the Indigenous people. The answer is also no as we tried to breed them out. I am an Australian and I was never thought about what we did to the Aborigines and only found out about it in my 20s.
Yes you can. The alternative is oppression and using them for your own personal gain. Let people live how they want, unless it hurts others. Not everybody has to benefit your ideal fantasy about how the world should be.
I always visit museums while traveling around my country so I can touch the histories of the cities and the people.
As time goes by, things get old and demolished, and new things are constructed.That's how we embrace our own future.
Your videos are nice and lovely.Love from CN.
Have heard so many negative news about Tibet and Xinjing here in North America, their human rights, forced labor, their religions are not allowed....those were sad. Glad you visited those areas with open mind. I really enjoyed your video. Appreciated you bring us a glance of how local people lives there, colorful houses, clean street, bake in a traditional way, dancing in the square. Everything looks harmony and vivid. Sorry you visited a market that no longer there, google didn't update?! I wish I could see more via your eyes.
Xinjiang (56 official ethnicities people) speak Mandarin. They are truly happy & friendly people. I met a family of Kashgar Uygur. They are so friendly & happy. They invited me to stay with them & eat with them without charging me. Genuinely nice.
Meet a young Han Muslim guide. He said that he wants to enjoy modern living as all young people while adhering to religious rules. He would return to traditional Muslim way of living like his parents after he have got married when would be 40-yr old. A young man trying to master his own life and balance well between traditional religious and modern living. 😄
Guess this is a good representation of the chinese mindset. 5000 years and you still see ancient traditions practiced. When I look west.... All I see is Hollywood.
I don't know if you guys have noticed? One big difference for travelers in China compared to other countries is that you won't have strangers following you around on the streets or any popular sightseeing spots selling items or young children making hungry faces and then asking you for money.
Interesting part of the world! I thought that you wouldn’t be allowed to go there!
I agree, it’s a hard question. Things need to be upgraded for people who live there, but at the same time it’s nice to keep the heritage. I think it’s like that everywhere! ❤
Anyone with a China visa can visit Xinjiang. There is no special permit required. Just book an airline ticket or train ticket. Off you go.
@@XW3126yes！还有钱❤❤
I am Chinese, and I didn't know about places like this video. Love you to see other couples traveling!
At the end you questioned about the demolition and new development whether it was to preserve the culture or to attract tourists. Perhaps there's other reasons such as helping the people in this remote region in Xinjiang to improve their quality of lives. I admire that both of you always want to explore the old traditional local culture and neighborhoods from a world traveler's perspective. However, it's also very likely that the locals actually desire to have their neighborhood modernized
it's middle of nowhere, if Kashgar does not transform into a tourist city, people there will always be poor.
Kashgar was once a crucial business center connecting China and Mid-Asia countries. Not any more since the revolt of the Altishahr Khojas in 18th centuries, the political and economical focus has always be on North Xinjiang since then. If Kashgar wants to be prosperous again, it has to regain the role connecting Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Tourism is not going to do a lot to economically uplift the South Xinjiang region.
I think you guys should visit the local Museum to see how their lives were in the past, especially their traditional housing built by mud. Xinjiang has had lot of earthquakes that killed many people living in that mud houses. It's not fair for the locals to live in the dangerous traditional mud houses in order to please you Westerners or tourists in the name of preserving the history, you two can go to the local museums to see that "history".
We literally said the locals should be able to enjoy development. Did you just listen to half of what was said and then got upset?
@@josieliftsthings Cause I has asked the same question as you guys until I saw the living conditions of the local people in the past from museum and documentaries. That's why I ask you guys to visit the local museums to get the answers. Some remote areas still have that kind of abandoned mud houses, I heard Chinese government subsidied their new houses after the earthquakes, you Westerners can't imagine how the Chinese government has help the minority, the thief always believes everybody steals. The genocidal Western governments always think other government, especially Chinese and Communist government, would do the same.
It's a simple thing to see but we are blinded by the Western anti-China misinformation to see the simple reason behind or lose the critical thinking to see it.
Please stop being so divisive. “You westerners think THIS”
I’m an individual person with my own thoughts and feelings. Please stop telling others what they think.
@@josieliftsthings Yes, the governement subsidied 50% to 100% to the local (dependted on their income level) to improve or rebuild their house up to the morden living or safety standard, this is same to people living in Tibet.
@@josieliftsthings I'm sorry, because China has been stigmatized for a long time, so some of us are very emotional. I like your video very much, and I agree with your point of view. We hope local residents can live a better life, and we don't want some scenic spots to become too commercialized.
I have a brilliant idea. You can travel to those spots that are shown in the game Black Myth: Wu Kong. Yes, many scenes in this game come from the real place. That's really amazing!
This city seems colorful and the people look friendly & happy.
Becoming a tourist attraction is also a good thing. It will boost local economy, also show local culture to more people. I hope some of the traditional buildings will be well preserved.
博主终于到了最美丽的新疆，南疆有最灿烂的民族风情，北疆有最美丽的大自然风景，josie说的很好，在城市发展的同时要保护历史人文，不过每个地区的人民都想过上生活设施便利，整洁干净、现代化、并且有更好的收入的生活，在中国二三十年高速发展的那些年，作为偏远地区的新疆交通不便利，经济发展滞后，人民生活比较贫困，新疆人民都想去全国各地城市打工和做小生意，年轻人也都想去内地发达城市发展，人才流失，城市空心化、老龄化，人们都想逃离这里，这些问题对于新疆来说这不是好事，对于地区稳定也不好，中国政府看到了这些问题，随着内陆地区发展稳定，国家也推出了大力发展大西北的政策，这让新疆发挥它的优势，大力发展旅游事业，让新疆有了机会让世界知道新疆，更多的新疆本地人和年轻人愿意回去建设发展自己的家乡，这是一些利国利民的政策！关于保护历史文化这件事，那些建筑修缮改建工程大部分也是政府牵头出资，根据原有建筑风格最大的保留了，让它们看上去更新，提供给游客一些更好的环境和体验，所以我们不必要过多担心。
Great comment, thank you
Great Job! You guys are amazing to show the truth to the world!
My experience of spending 2 weeks in Xinjiang is witnessing the systematic destruction of the original Uighur culture and replacing it with a Han Chinese one, in the name of modernisation. You have seen the demolition of the old Uighur areas and the construction of a new Chinese city, except where it’s preserved as a tourist attraction for Han Chinese to gaup at the ‘quaint Uighurs’. The mosque in Kashgar is preserved as a museum, but there are no more calls to prayer there. The Dalai Lama has called this process in Tibet “cultural genocide”. I think it’s exactly the same in Xinjiang, especially in Urumqi and Hotan. The Uighur are central Asian people - Turkic in culture, language, food, music, clothing - very different from the Chinese, who are shipped in on generous government grants and tax breaks, to outnumber them. Tragic and criminal, in my opinion.
I recently visited Uzbekistan and it looks and sounds so familiar ! The architecture and the language, you can see the Turk influence ! Thank you for this beautiful video !
I watched a documentary about the old town of Kashgar, where people live in shabby homes without water, electricity, toilets, etc. So, should we keep those conditions for people from outside to tour around their miseries? It is a question.
Well we said no in the video, so you already have my answer to that.
It's actually pretty easy, just rent a car and drive a couple hours outside the cities if you want to see something more authentic. Locals go on road trips to the country side all the time these days.
Xinjiang is huge though, you can drive for hours without seeing anything but shrubs.
Being a Chinese, I visited almost 50 countries, meeting different ppl, some kind and some unkind, yet our Chinese are the kindest to foreigners. China is also the safest place.
Finally you made it to Xinjiang !!! Thanks for this. It means a lot, the truth!! Good to have you travelling in China, love❤
welcome to my hometown, thank you for your introducing.
Tourists love to see the "authentic buildings" and locals love to live in "modernised buildings". It is the local government's job to balance that by planning and renovating the city at an appropriate speed. Love your authenticity in your video, enjoy your travelling.
Because Xinjiang is located in a dry desert and is an area with many earthquakes, their houses are very easily damaged. We try our best to protect these buildings and restore the local architectural style. In order to allow local residents to live in a safer and more convenient environment, we have to reinforce or rebuild these buildings. If you go further away from the city center, there are still many places that retain the original buildings. The people here deserve good education, perfect medical care, convenient transportation, beautiful environment, and safe housing. Although how to preserve traditional culture and upgrade living standards at the same time is a problem, but the most important thing is that people here are happy.
Yeah it’s a double edged sword isn’t it? Everyone has the right to modernise - the challenge (and a worthwhile one) is retaining culture.
The implication is “ culture genocide”. They are totally brainwashed by media like sky news Australia. Don’t waste your time and efforts to convince them.
I’ve never watched sky news in my life, I despise Murdoch media. Honestly painting everyone who doesn’t 100% agree with you as brainwashed is…. Well frankly brainwashed activities.
Seriously, asking a question of the right way forward = implication of cultural genocide. How pea brained 😂
@@josieliftsthings 中国政府每年都会拿出很多钱支持西藏和新疆的建设，就像你们去西藏拉萨，有很多寺庙僧人，不用干活，每天只是研究佛法，因为有政府的支持，在新疆也是，有很多的清真寺是政府修建的，教徒不工作，政府来养活他们，正是因为政府为人民安居乐业，人民才会支持政府。
@@josieliftsthings that’s the narrative day in and day out from sky news Australia and ASPI-so called think tank, actually a propaganda organization from Australia.
Gossip is all day long, but if you don't listen, there will be no gossip. I watched your video from the TikTok and came here specially. Thank you for objectively evaluating Chinese cities. I wish you a happy time in China.
你們入住的地方真的很美，看起來相當有特色也很有個性❤
Gossip is all day long, but if you don't listen, there will be no gossip. I watched your video from the TikTok and came here specially. Thank you for objectively evaluating Chinese cities. I wish you a happy time in China🎉
Xinjang used to be a poor region with active separatist groups and sentiments.
China stepped in after a decade of armed violence.
I think rebuilding Xinjiang is still a work in progress, economical, cultural and political.
In essence all the modern places you guys visited in China probably underwent the same process of breaking down and rebuilding. Xinjiang is not an exception in that regard.
Hi ,Josie.I have a little recommendation. You can go to Chongqing(pronounced like Chong Tsing) in China. It’s very Cyberpunk.And the landform is very complicated.I think it’s one of the craziest cities in the world because of its complicated terrain and city construction .You can even see metro going through a building.What's more,the food is one of the best in China. 7:05 It features spice and amazing seasoner.There‘s so many good snacks，like Chongqing xiao mian(Chongqing noodles).
In my view, the demolition of historic buildings is happening all across China, not just in Xinjiang. This phenomenon is more a result of the pursuit of economic growth and profits, rather than something targeting any particular ethnic minority. In fact, ethnic minorities often have more favorable conditions in areas like education and business compared to the Han majority, who make up the vast majority of China's population.
Thank for telling the truth..show those anti China western media how safe, peaceful, beautiful, modern & progressives Xinjiang today.
Amazing travel vlog. Highest quality. Thank you.
❤️❤️
Respect for having a look for yourself. It took someone from Penrith who had the guts to check it out for themselves.