Xinjiang

Xinjiang, the largest province in China, is well known for its snow-capped Tianshan with its soaring peaks and the Turpan Valley which produces the best grapes in China. Once the hub of the Silk Road, it was the conduit through which Buddhism, Christianity and Islam entered China.

It was also the crossroads at which Chinese, Turkic, Tibetan, and Mongol empires communicated and struggled with each other. Due to its strategic position, it is no wonder that Xinjiang, whose capital is Urumqi, is a melting pot of ethnicities and cultures, whose influences can be seen in the Mystical Steppes: Along the Silk Road.

Located at the northwest of China bordering Tibet, Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan, it is a fascinating cultural melting pot with 47 ethnic groups and an interesting mix of cultures, customs, and lifestyles. Most of the population are Muslims by religion.

Surrounded by mountains, Xinjiang is known as the home of fruits and melons. Its main agricultural produces include wheat, corn, cotton and fruits such as Hami melon, grape, fig and Illi apple.