Before there was Far West China…there was The Opposite End of China.

For over 8 months I have received numerous emails asking me what happened to Michael Manning and his Xinjiang blog “The Opposite End of China”,

Yesterday I was fortunate to run across a very interesting video interview posted on Danwei.  In the interview Jeremy Goldkorn talks with Wang Gang, author of the book English: A Novel, a book that I have reviewed both on this site and on Danwei.  For those of you who aren’t familiar, Wang Gang grew up in Xinjiang during the darker times in China’s history and his novel reflects both his experience and his hindsight concerning that period.
I find his words particularly interesting in light of recent events in Xinjiang.  Blame …

I’d like to introduce you to one of the most popular buildings in Karamay, a small city of only 200,000 people here in Xinjiang. It represents the only place of worship that is not only accepted by the local government but also boasts a large membership from their ranks.

Last week the move “Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen” opened in theaters all around China.  I watched in envy as groups in Shanghai, including CNReviews and Shanghaiist, organized viewing parties to enjoy the opening.  Soon enough, I told myself, the pirated DVD would make its way into our local stores and I would be able to enjoy the movie in the comfort of my home.  I was preparing myself for another summer of exciting blockbusters displayed on a small 21″ TV.

A quick roundup of all the news and blogs about Xinjiang for the month of June, 2009.

Yesterday marked the 4th year that my wife and I have been married – three of which have been spent here in Xinjiang, China.  While most people insist that “absense makes the heart grow fonder”, I am here to say that nothing teaches you more about your spouse than living in a desert with no other foreigners while working at the same school and seeing each other 13 out of 16 hours you’re awake.  This is a good thing, mind you, not a complaint.

In case you didn’t see last Tuesday’s post on our recent camping trip here in Xinjiang, we just invested in a new motorcycle.  It is a second-hand motorcycle that we’re hoping to use to facilitate more travel within the province, particularly our area up here in the north.  I’ve already received a few questions about the motorcycle, both in my email and in the blog comments, so I thought I’d just answer a few of them quickly.

Frequently Asked Motorcycle Questions
#1  No sane person drives in China!  Have you gone insane?
Maybe.  …

As part of our contract here in Xinjiang my wife and I are allowed one trip back to our home per year, a vacation that is usually taken in the summer months.  This year we’ve decided to change things up a bit, partly because we want to be home for Christmas for the first time in 3 years but also because we want a chance to explore.  There’s no point in living in a province with such natural beauty if you’re not going to enjoy it, right?

While we’ve done our …

Today marks the 1-year anniversary of the Sichuan / Wenchuan Earthquake, an event that temporarily leveled a country’s spirit while simultaneously strengthening their resolve in the months leading up to the 2008 Olympics.  All around the country today gatherings and memorials will be taking place to remember

Today is May 1st, or the “Labor Day” holiday here in China.  For most people, including myself and my wife, that means a day without having to go in for work, and with weather this nice it couldn’t come at a better time.  Before the national holiday calendar was revised in 2007 I remember having a full week off in May, plenty of time to take a nice trip somewhere I hadn’t yet been and take a break from work.  Now it barely even registers as a holiday to me.