Located in Central Asia, Xinjiang is a landlocked region in northwest China that borders 7 countries. It has a primarily Islamic population and is known for its multi-ethnic cultures influenced by the ancient Silk Road. The region is home to ethnic groups like the Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Tajiks, and more who speak Turkic and Chinese languages and maintain traditional nomadic lifestyles. Xinjiang has a variety of landscapes from deserts like the Taklimakan to mountain regions and alpine lakes.

1. Photography by Ken Chan Total of 30 photos - taken between 2000-2006 新 疆 Automatic advance

2. Located in land-locked Central Asia, Xinjiang shares border with 7 countries including Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan Xinjiang is a primarily Islamic region in northwest China As part of the ancient silkroad, Xinjiang is known for its multi-ethnic Euro-Asian cultures

3. Xinjiang is multi-lingual: Turkic (Arabic based) languages and Chinese

4. It does not take long to realize you are in Islamic territory

5. where men still feel uncomfortable sitting among women

6. Part of tradition in Central Asia : people here love carpet …. music …

7. This instrument resembles Chinese Erhu Not surprising because Erhu was originally introduced by nomadic horsemen from Central Asia

8. Locals have been using donkey carts like this for centuries Life in the countryside remains very basic

9. Sheep are raised everywhere They often take over the road

10. So are camels except they don’t seem to like walking on paved roads These 2 humped camels are unique in Central Asia Those in Middle East are single humped

11. Baked bread here is called Nang … .. bagels !

12. Many restaurants here are operated by Chinese Muslims called Hui

13. Uyghur is the biggest ethnic group In Xinjiang

14. Kazakhs live in the north Many of them still lead a nomadic life

15. A Kazakh hunter and his golden eagle

16. A Kyrgyzst family in the Pamir

17. Tajiks have strong Persian heritage

18. Regardless of ethnicity or religion everyone here loves this land, and for good reasons

19. With desert oases nourished by snowmelts from Tianshan Mountains

20. Most of the rivers seem to disappear in the vast desert only to resurface at a distant oasis

21. Try driving through the bone dry Taklimakan Desert

22. Visit Ghost Town where the movie Crouching Tiger was filmed

23. Check out where some ancient civilizations used to thrive visit this ruin of the Gaochang Kingdom (600 A.D.) near Turpan

24. To the west of the desert lies the Pamir mountain range

25. Yaks grazing by Karakul Lake in the Pamir

26. Inexpensive lake front property with beautiful views

27. Heavenly Lake in Tianshan Mountain

28. Lake Hanas nested in these Altai Mountains bordering Russia

29. Glacier water in Lake Hanas has a milky appearance

30. Homeward bound for him …. and for me

31. I will be back …. beautiful Xinjiang