Xinjiang exudes its rich cultural wealth

The Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region is China's westernmost area and spans over 1.6 million square kilometers and occupying one sixth of the country's total territory. With its distinct geographic features of mountains and basins, there are 47 different ethnic groups and more than 25 million people living in Xinjiang. Many Chinese historical anecdotes and legends took place in the land which has formed long and profound traditions in poetry and literature, leaving behind plentiful cultural relics.

As a photographer, Shang Changping spent more than 20 years exploring and filming different places in Xinjiang, such as the Taklamakan Desert, the Kunlun Mountains and the Tarim Basin to understand the local inhabitants and villages. After many years, he still cherishes a bouquet of cotton flowers given to him by a local Uygur woman.

Thanks to the advancement of infrastructure, irrigation systems, social services and other aspects, different areas in Xinjiang have witnessed great improvements in people's livelihoods.