From Silk Road to Skylines: How Xinjiang’s Oasis Cities Came Alive

A moment in the Tianshan Mountains can shape centuries of human life.
Since Zhang Qian opened routes to the Western Regions over 2,000 years ago, exchange never stopped.
Today, vibrant cities rise along the northern slopes—Urumqi, Karamay, Shihezi, Changji, and Shawan—powering Xinjiang’s modern growth.