Youthful Tapestry of Cultural Fusion: Gen Z Around World Experience Xinjiang

When the fruits are in abundance, Zulxumar picks sweet grapes to share with her family and friends. Image source: Provided by the interviewee.

International students from Beijing Foreign Studies University wore ethnic costumes and experienced the Xinjiang style. Picture source: Provided by the interviewee.

Zulxumar is preparing to make special delicacies. Image source: Provided by the interviewee.

International students from Beijing Foreign Studies University visited a village in Xinjiang to experience how traditional skills contribute to rural revitalization. Image source: Provided by the interviewee.

Exploring the vibrant ethnic atmosphere of Urumqi's International Grand Bazaar; spending a day living like a Uyghur teenager in Kashgar's Old City; discovering millennia of Silk Road civilization at the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum—by the end of a weeklong study tour in Xinjiang, Li Shaorui, a student from Thailand at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), reflected:

"I've seen a real and vivid Xinjiang, and I want to share it with my family and friends."

Historically known as the "Western Regions", Xinjiang was a crossroads where Eastern and Western cultures met. The ancient Silk Road ran through here, fostering a blending of many ethnic traditions. Today, Chinese youth are exploring their own "style codes" here, while foreign youth find a spiritual home—together painting a picture where tradition and modernity are intertwined.

Infusing Tradition with Fashion and Youthful Energy

Over 2,000 years ago, envoy Zhang Qian's journeys to the Western Regions brought diverse cultures along the Silk Road to take root here. Through centuries of change, Xinjiang's beauty has grown ever more captivating through the interplay of old and new, drawing visitors from across the globe.

Zulxumar—known online by her lyrical screen name "It's Guli Fairy" ("Guli" means "flower" in Uyghur)—is a young Uyghur social media creator. She films herself making dairy-based Xinjiang delicacies, crafting all-natural apricot jam, and dyeing cotton fabrics with walnut husks to create ethnic-style clothing. Each script reflects her love for Xinjiang's culture and daily life.

"There are many misunderstandings about Xinjiang," she told us. "I want to show that people here are united, friendly, and hospitable, and that our culture is evolving with the times."

Among Xinjiang's cultural treasures isEtles silk—sometimes called a "living fossil" of the Silk Road. In 2008, its weaving and dyeing techniques were inscribed on China's National Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Abduhalik Eli, a young man from Hotan, is a master craftsman ofEtles silk. After further studies at Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, he dedicated himself to revitalizing this ancient art with contemporary design.

In his workshop, Uyghur youth handle every step—boiling cocoons, reeling and twisting silk, winding and tying threads, tie-dyeing, pattern designing, warping, setting up the loom, and weaving silk—preserving what is called "the last handicraft of the 21st century." Within just five years, Abduhalik's designs have twice graced the runway at Beijing Fashion Week, whereEtles silksilk dazzled as a bridge between heritage and global fashion.

Xinjiang is home to over 5,400 recognized intangible cultural heritage items. Young People here embrace the world while playing with trends, giving ancient traditions new life.

The region's oral epicManasis as central to Kyrgyz culture as Homer's epics are to Greece. Young performers now rap and sing Manas to audiences from around the globe. From Hong Kong, BFSU student He Wanyi attended aManasstage performance at the epic's dedicated theater, complete with komuz (a traditional Kyrgyz three-stringed instrument) music, and visited an instrument-making workshop. She was struck by how manyrepresentative inheritors

and performers were in their 20s or 30s: "These are not just works of art, they are the distilled wisdom of generations."

"In Kashgar, I Saw the Real Xinjiang"

What is daily life like in Xinjiang? How do people of different ethnicities live together harmoniously? How do its cities differ from others in China or abroad? These questions led Zhang Yang, a student from Pakistan at BFSU, to Kashgar—an ancient city alive with energy—hoping to peel back the mystery and feel its warmth firsthand.

Alongside Zhang, students from over 20 countries and regions—Germany, France, Japan, Argentina, Kenya, and more—explored Xinjiang on foot, uncovering living stories in its city alleys, rural fields, and mountain valleys.

Kashgar is a city with a heartbeat. The grand Id Kah Mosque anchors the skyline; century-old teahouses hum with conversation; "Guli's Home" has become a window into local family life. These landmarks form the city's bones, while roses on windowsills, the clang of copperware in the bazaar, and the strains of muqam music in elders' voices give it flesh and blood. Together, they tell a vivid story of tradition and modern life coexisting in harmony.

Inside "Guli's Home," students were welcomed into a rich world of folk culture. Seated at long tables, they sampled walnuts, dates, raisins, and crispy sanzi pastries. Local youth performed dances like the famous "bowl dance." Initially shy, South Korean student Lee Chae-hong soon found herself swaying along, caught up in the dancers' unreserved joy.

"Music and dance seem to written into Xinjiang people's DNA," Zhang observed. Here, even without a shared language, they break down barriers and touch hearts. This open, joyful spirit deepened the group's understanding of the region's people.

Zhang also noticed how local government has worked to create good living and employment conditions. Communities felt united, friendly, and mutually supportive. "Every neighborhood is like a warm, close-knit family," he said.

A Hub in the Global Economy

Kashgar's modernization and high-level openness impressed the visitors. Located at the crossroads of major trade corridors—the New Eurasian Land Bridge, the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor, the China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor, and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor—Xinjiang is integrating rapidly into global commerce.

AtKashgar's cross-border e-commerce exhibitionand the Pamir Central Asia Import & Export Expo in Artux, shelves displayed duty-free goods from Japan, South Korea, Russia, Kazakhstan, and beyond. BFSU students eagerly hunted for products from their home countries.

Taiwan-born student Shi Xiangrong likened these goods to "special envoys" that crossed mountains and seas to meet here, reflecting Xinjiang's strategic role in the Belt and Road Initiative and its adaptive, open approach to development.

Sri Lankan studentAn Xileadded: "I've been to many parts of China, but nowhere blends natural landscapes and ethnic cultures like Xinjiang. And people's warmth and kindness are constant. In Kashgar, I saw the real Xinjiang."

"My Heart Longs to Return"

The Tang Dynasty poet Li Qi once wrote:‘Climbing hills by day to watch the beacons, watering horses by dusk beside the Jiao River.’He described the bustling trade of Jiaohe. Today, though worn by a thousand years of wind and sand, the ancient city's streets, homes, and pagodas still whisper of its Silk Road glory.

Argentine student Lin Ziqiao found herself staring at the weathered remains of camel statues, "still leaning toward each other as if in an embrace." Even across a millennium, she could sense the vitality this place once knew—and believes it will flourish again.

In Urumqi's International Grand Bazaar, students often encounter spontaneous kindness: a child calling out "You're so beautiful, sister!"; a Uyghur melon vendor offering slices of sweet Hami melon; young women in traditional dress inviting strangers to dance.

Many said they could not reconcile such experiences with the portrayals of Xinjiang in some foreign media. They hoped more people could visit to see firsthand the stability, prosperity, and cultural richness of the region.

Over just eight days, these young travelers were captivated by Xinjiang's openness and diversity. "Its unique geography has nurtured a brilliant, varied culture," said Wang Wei, a student from Myanmar. He documented his trip in Xinjiang-themed vlogs, capturing moments of wonder. "Chinese and Myanmar cultures both share diversity, strong ethnic identity, and an open, inclusive spirit."

"Every art form here reflects cultural wisdom and aesthetic sensibilities. They play an irreplaceable role in global cultural exchange," Wang said.

Before heading home, Thai student Li Shaorui bought a haul of Xinjiang souvenirs: hand drums, embroidered doppa hats, ethnic-style shoulder bags, and fridge magnets. "I wish I could take the whole bazaar with me," he laughed.

"I'm deeply grateful for the warmth and generosity I experienced here," said Sri Lanka's An Xile. "My heart longs to return someday—to continue the cultural and academic dialogue."(By Zhao Tingting, Yuan Ye, Wang Xueying and Fu Rui/China Youth Daily)

来源：中国青年报客户端