Mention the name “Xinjiang” and most people who know their Chinese geography picture vast deserts crossed by dirty looking camels and a beating sun.  It’s a nostalgic picture that was made popular by the famous Silk Road but it’s a stereotype Xinjiang can’t seem to shake. The truth is that these immense deserts are locked in by incredible mountain ranges and watered by a multitude of lakes and rivers. Some of these lakes provide the most breathtaking scenery that Xinjiang has to offer.

This week has been a bit busy for us, as you can probably tell by the few posts that have gone up.  Besides trying to train a new dog I’ve also found myself finishing up work on a few paid writing gigs – those tend to take preference over this enjoyable yet non-paying blog!

This cemetery, located in the north western portion of Kashgar, is one of the biggest Uyghur cemeteries in Xinjiang. Up until recently people were still being buried in these mud and brick built graves beside the Abah Khojah Mausoleum. The markings on these graves are not as ornate as those on a Chinese grave but the designs are much more unique and visually pleasing.

I’m not sure if it’s the fact that spring is coming or that we’ve just finally gone crazy after another insanely cold Xinjiang winter, but something snapped this weekend and we now have a dog.  He’s not too bad, either. 

This conversation, short though it may be, is an example of one of the funniest problems I ran into when first learning Chinese: the art of stating the obvious. In the American culture, stating the obvious is just asking for a joke. I love it how comic Bill Engvall…

Back in the day my mom used to keep a box of frozen food known as “Hot Pockets” in the freezer ready to fight my insatiable appetite. It was never quite enough for a full meal, but it would keep me out of the kitchen long enough for her to cook a full-blown dinner. If I remember right there were different flavors like broccoli and cheese, chicken and cheese, beef and onions, and maybe even pepperoni pizza. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that I don’t think they ever thought of adding “lamb” as a flavor.

When you come to Xinjiang you’ll see these hats everywhere, usually worn by the Uyghur half of the population. Also known as a “dopa” these 4-angled hats – brightly colored and embroidered with beautiful beads – have come to be known by some as a symbol of the Uyghur people. Here you see a small shop in Kashgar showcasing the variety of sizes and colors of hats you can find to buy as a souvenir. Stop by and grab one for yourself.

Last Friday officials from various government bureaus in the Xinjiang capital of Urumqi organized a campaign to destroy fake and low-quality products. I gotta give them some credit, though, cause they didn’t just destroy the goods, they had some fun doing it…I’m talking about gasoline, flame throwers, and steamrollers here! Not a bad way to celebrate World Consumer Rights Day last March 15th.

Xinjiang’s been in the news a lot lately.  In my Google Reader I’ve actually subscribed to any mention of the word “Xinjiang” in the global media, and it’s been lighting up today.  I always hate it when that happens, because it’s not usually a good thing.

This week’s interview is focusing on the all-too-familiar topic of teaching English in China.  Have you ever wondered what Chinese co-workers think about foreigner English teachers getting paid more to do the same job as they do?  Curious about how the ethnic tensions between Han and Uyghur play out on a personal level?  Then read on, because this interview is sure to interest you.