Where Nature and Technology Resonate, Young People’s Xinjiang Story

Two "post-90s" tech workers—Ai Haipeng(right) and Ling Lei from Guangzhou-based XAG. Image source: Provided by the interviewee.

Agricultural drones patrol over the "super cotton field". Image source: Provided by the interviewee.

Petroleum company employees introduce oil products. Photo taken by Zhao Tingting

Wang Yixuan is inspecting the equipment. Image source: Provided by the interviewee.

The salmon breeding base in Xinjiang. Image source: Provided by the interviewee.

"Xinjiang, our beautiful land, with pastures north and south of the Tianshan Mountains; where deserts and gravel flats turn into fertile fields; where melting snow irrigates the farms."

This lyric from the song Our Beautiful Xinjiang celebrates the region's majestic landscapes and rich resources. Today, with drones and other new agricultural tools, farming has been given "wings of technology." Land-based salmon farming is adding new possibilities for regional growth. Traditional petrochemical industries are accelerating green transformation. In Xinjiang, young people are "chasing the wind and following the sun," writing a new chapter where nature and technology are in harmony.

"Salmon Finds a Home on the Gobi"

Located deep in the Eurasian continent, Xinjiang is arid and dry, once considered unsuitable for aquaculture. Yet, using pristine Tianshan mountain water, local technicians have succeeded in raising delicious, high-quality salmon.

"Xinjiang's cold-water resources are world-class in reserves, water quality, and oxygen content—perfect for cage-based salmon farming," said Cai Lingang, director of the Xinjiang Fisheries Research Institute.

Fed by glaciers and snowmelt from the Tianshan and Kunlun Mountains, Xinjiang's 600-plus reservoirs have become natural "containers" for ecological salmon farming. Even in Turpan—where summer temperatures often top 40°C (104°F)—abundant underground cold-water sources hold steady between 4°C and 18°C (39°F–64°F), ideal for salmon.

"Good water breeds good fish. We've made salmon feel at home on the Gobi!" said Zhang Mingyi, head of the Xinjiang Fisheries and Fishing Administration.

Xinjiang now has three farming and processing bases, three primary processing plants, and two advanced processing facilities. Salmon farms combine "eco-friendly" with "high-tech": semi-closed recirculating systems allow real-time water monitoring; underwater cleaning robots use sonar and optical tools to clear debris from cage floors; smart feeding systems dispense feed with sensor-guided precision. In a "dual-use water" model, glacier meltwater is first used for aquaculture, then purified and channeled to irrigate Gobi farmland, maximizing resource efficiency.

An international expert who toured the site marveled: "Xinjiang people, Xinjiang salmon—yaxshi!(Uyghur for ‘good’). In this desert region, you've raised world-class salmon with minimal water—astonishing!"

In 2024, Xinjiang produced 8,104 metric tons of salmon, ranking second in China; by 2026, output is expected to surpass 15,000 tons, making it the nation's top producer. With a full supply chain—from hatchery to farming to processing and nationwide same-day air delivery—Xinjiang salmon has the confidence to compete globally.

The ripple effect is clear: over 400 former herders in southern Xinjiang have transitioned into aquaculture jobs, earning stable incomes and moving into new homes. The regional government is also linking salmon farms with scenic spots like the "Hundred-Mile Gallery" and Duku Highway to create integrated "view, taste, and learn" tourism experiences.

"Salmon is just the tip of the iceberg," Zhang said. Xinjiang is home to more than 80 fish species, over 40 unique to the region—untapped treasures waiting for sustainable development.

"Growing Cottonis as Easy as Playing a Game"

In spring planting season, a red drone hovers over cotton fields, scanning plant health in real time. Xinjiang's long-staple cotton—renowned for fiber length, strength, and softness—thrives under ideal natural conditions: sharp day-night temperature differences and over 2,800 hours of sunshine annually.

In Yuli County, two "post-90s" tech workers—Ai Haipeng and Ling Lei from Guangzhou-based XAG—manage a 2-million-square-meter "super cotton field." With no prior agricultural experience, they've become skilled farm managers using high-tech tools.

Whereas such a farm once required 20–30 workers, today drones, GPS-guided tractors, IoT devices, and autonomous systems mean that two men can run operations from an air-conditioned control room. Smart Irrigation mitigates heat stress with frequent light watering; "cotton–wheat intercropping" reduces wind damage; predictive pest control systems allow early, targeted interventions.

In 2024, their yields exceeded 500 kg per mu (about 7,500 lbs/acre), matching Xinjiang's best fields. Once doubted, they've earned veteran farmers' respect—and inspired more young people to return to farming.

"We want farming to be as easy as gaming," Ai said, envisioning Xinjiang's agricultural innovations reaching Central Asia and beyond.

Young People Going Green

For Wang Yixuan, a girl from Xinjiang, petroleum was always "black gold." Joining PetroChina's Karamay Petrochemical Co. opened her eyes to the industry's vibrant transformation. Located in the northwestern Junggar Basin, Karamay was China's first large oilfield city, born and built on oil.

Today, industry upgrades and tech advances mean workers no longer endure primitive, harsh conditions. Real-time digital monitoring of oilfield output, high-automation refining systems, and data-driven control centers are standard.

Xinjiang's renewable energy potential is enormous: solar resources account for 40% of China's technically exploitable capacity; wind potential ranks second nationwide. As part of China's 14th Five-Year Plan, Xinjiang is accelerating renewable projects and green industrial transformation.

Karamay Petrochemical's strategy follows the principle of "low-carbon at the source, carbon reduction in process, end-stage treatment." High-quality development is turning us greener and smarter, aided by homegrown automation software and intelligent equipment that boost efficiency and free workers from repetitive tasks.

"Born in Xinjiang, building Xinjiang, rooted in Xinjiang"—this creed spans generations. These young innovators believe the region's wind and sunlight will light homes far and wide, and Xinjiang's products will reach every corner of the world.(By Zhao Tingting, Yuan Ye, Wang Xueyingand Fu Rui/China Youth Daily)

来源：中国青年报客户端