Travel

Brief Intro To Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-08 13:26

Religion:

Xinjiang's diversity is also reflected in the practice of religion, with major religions ranging from Lamaism (Tibetan Buddhism), Islam, Buddhism and Taoism to Christianity, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox and Shamanism.

Tourism: Xinjiang is also known far and wide for its magnificent scenic vistas and enchanting spectacles of the nature. The region, the driest area in China, is home to China's longest inland river, the lowest depression in terms of elevation, most expansive desert, and both the warmest and coldest areas in the country.

Tourists visiting Xinjiang have the unique opportunity to visit one of the world's most spectacular and divergent regions which features unique rock and sand formations naturally sculpted over the millennia by erosion, ancient grottos, stone forests, desert mirages,  mysterious echoing sand dunes and a treasure trove of flora and fauna.

Related special coverage:  Charming Xinjiang

The divergence has given rise to the saying that Xinjiang is home to an area where "the four seasons coexist simultaneously in the same valley, and the gamut of weather conditions can be found in an area on larger than 100 square miles". While mountains and hills cover some 44 percent of the total land in Xinjiang, the region is also home to numerous inland rivers, alpine lakes, hot springs and glaciers. The mountain peaks offer breathtaking vistas of deserts, oases, lakes, basins and snow-covered ranges stretching as far as the eye can see, while the grasslands below are teeming with thriving herds of livestock grazing amongst the brilliantly colored flora.

While Xinjiang is famous for the ancient Silk Road, it is also home to 256 ancient cultural sites, tombs, ruins, Buddhist caves, stone sculptures and numerous contemporary monuments, some 154 of the sites are under state protection. In recent years, the region has opened 22 nature reserves for the protection of flora and fauna. The discovery of petroglyphs in Altay and dinosaur fossils has aroused the interests of experts, scholars and tourists alike.

Xinjiang is not only known as the land of fruits and melons, but also as the home to music and dance. When visiting Turpan one can either watch or join in singing and dancing the "maixilaipu" with friendly Uygurs. While sitting under trellises laden with grapes and enjoying the sweet fragrance of grapes, melons and various   other  fruits wafting through the air, one is most often entertained by Uygurs singing rousing folk songs to the accompaniment of a three-stringed dotar.