Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is the largest province in China. It covers an area of 1.7 million square kilometers, one sixth of China's total land area. That's three times the size of France and four and half times the size of Japan. The capital, Urumqi, is a three-hour flight from Beijing, but this is only a very small part of our travels as we take several days to travel into the inhospitable and spectacular desert and mountain terrain of the western areas of Xinjiang.

Situated in the northwestern part of China, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is divided into two parts. In Southern Xinjiang, there is China's largest inland basin - Cthe Tarim Basin. The enormous glaciers and snow-capped mountains not only nurture the extensive grasslands, forests, exotic animals and plants found here, but provide essential irrigation for the oasis around the basin. It is here in these delicate oasis areas, where cities like Kurla and Kashi were born.

In the northern part of Xinjiang, centered around the region's capital of Urumqi, are a scattering of basin cities. The Karamay Petroleum base and the new city Shihezi, situated in the Gobi desert, invigorate this ancient land. Mt. Artai, situated in the northern end of Xinjiang, is near the Erqis river, which runs through Xinjiang into the Arctic Ocean. It forms the unique alpine scenery of Northern Xinjiang, that looks like a Swiss postcard.

Xinjiang's total population is 1,925 million, among which most are Turkic-speaking Muslim Uygurs. There are altogether 47 nationalities in Xinjiang. The 4 major nationalities include Uygur, Han, Hui, and Mongols. Throughout Xinjiang's long history, many different nationalities have worked on the land, to form the multi-cultural Xinjiang of today.

The fabled Silk Road is an ancient transport route from Xi'an to the West. In the past, this long and lonely journey was the conduit for exchange of both goods and culture between East and West. Numerous ruins of ancient cities mark the trail of merchants and travelers who once trod this route. The ruins of Gao Chang are hoping to be included in the world heritage cultural listing, as an important historic and artistic relic.

As a major ancient and modern day-trading junction, Xinjiang, with all its ruins and antiques, still retains the exotic feel of the ancient days of silk road trading.

Forty-one important ruins have been listed as National Relic Preservation Sites. Among the 41 are the original remains of the Old City and Grotto, the Buddhist temple which holds ancient tombs and has been sited for its original architecture representing the different period characteristics of Xinjiang.

In 1957, 1962, and then again in 1990, and 1999, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region approved 239 sites as Relic Preservation Sites at regional level. These 239 sites cover 10,000 years.

Xinjiang, with its scenic beauties, cultural relics and minority experiences, is turning into a great tourist attraction in West China.

The DAAB drum is a traditional Uygur percussion instrument which is the heart of the musical group. Using fingers and palms the men beat out a rhythm for the women performing traditional Uygur dances. Such performances are not only a popular form of entertainment for both locals and tourists, but a beautiful display of Uygur culture, passed down over many generations.

The Uygur people follow a strong tradition of song and dance when celebrating joyous occasions and events. Passionate songs and music are matched with traditional dance and colorful costumes.

Shan Shan is a small paradise set in a thick maze of vines and grape trellises - C completely surrounded by the stark Gobi desert. Wine and raisins are major products of the Turpan Oasis, and each year in August people hold a wine festival, featuring singing, dancing, wine-tasting, and of course lots of grape eating.

The Turpan basin is the lowest in altitude in China. Part of the Basin is 154 meters below sea level and receives practically no rain. Turpan is the hottest spot in China and summers are hot. For this reason the area has been nicknamed the 'fiery basin'. Famed for its grapes the region boasts several hundred varieties. Turpan's grapes are not only big but are famous for their sweet taste.

This ancient irrigation system is known as the Kerez. The city of Turpan owes its existence to these vital wells and channels, some of which were constructed over 2,000 years ago. There are over a thousand wells, and the total length of the channels reaches an incredible 5,000 kilometers, all of which were built without modern machinery or building materials.

Precious water is transported in underground channels from "well head points" fed by underground streams from the foot of snow clad and glaciated mountains, such as the mighty Tianshan range, to oasis areas in the Gobi desert, where the soil is rich and fertile.

The vast areas of Xinjiang are favorable for the development of its agriculture and animal husbandry industries. However, due to traditional farming and grazing methods, farmers and herdsmen's incomes are lower in this area, compared with many parts of eastern of China.

Among Chinese provinces and regions, Xinjiang has the longest borderline trade zone. At present, there are 16 first tier ports and 5 second tier ports in Xinjiang, which open the province on different levels of economic development.

Xinjiang is developing international trade center as a bridge for trade and communications with neighbourhood countries. In this way, merchants from middle Asia and west Asia can purchase Chinese products in Xinjiang, as well as Chinese merchants have access to the products and markets in these countries.

Once a week Kashi's population swells by 50,000 as people stream into the Sunday market. Walking the Bazha market street and watching the colorfully- dressed Uygur and Hui, I see a proud, resourceful and optimistic people. Their influence on Chinese culture extends far beyond the borders of Xinjiang, as Uygur restaurateurs and street vendors can be found all throughout China. The Uygurs are rapidly improving their lifestyle by adopting modern farming, processing and marketing techniques, while still maintaining their traditional culture and religion.

One of the key West China Development Projects is the construction of a pipeline to transport natural gas from Xinjiang to Shanghai. Once the flow of gas starts across the 2,500 km long pipeline, Xinjiang starts to gain enormous economic benefits. From the extensive reserves in the Tarim Basin alone, Xinjiang can supply eastern China's gas requirements for the next 30 years.

Under the vast Gobi desert on both flanks of Tian Shan, under the numerous basins and mountains, are buried a great variety of mineral resources. The Zhunger, Tarim and Turpan basins are rich in both petroleum and natural gas. The reserve of petroleum is predicted at 20-40 billion tons, one third of China's total petroleum reserve. Natural gas is predicted to be 1.3 billion cubic meters.

The 'Transportation of natural gas to Eastern China will bring more revenue to the region Xinjiang. The auxiliary services and processing industries of these projects will further develop Xinjiang's economy.

Cotton is the most competitive pillar product in Xinjiang. Because of the long hours of daylight and dry atmosphere, Xinjiang is a perfect place to grow cotton.

Urumqi is located in a natural basin, and because of its climate and the burning of fossil fuels, it has become one of the many cities in China to suffer from serious pollution. It was once cited in a black list in the UN World Health Organization for its poor air quality. Over the past decades the city has taken enormous steps to improve that quality and cut polluting emissions.

Dealing with the cities air pollution has remained the top priority for Urumqi government over the last three years. Several policies have been adopted to reduce the industry use of fossil fuels within the city centre.

If chimneys are fixed sources for air pollution, then cars are the moving sources. Since July 1st 1999, all gas stations in Urumqi were required to supply lead free petrol. At present, Urumqi is an experimental city for a clean automobile project in China.

Buerjin County at the northern end of Xinjiang, is located in the middle of air passage of the Ural Mountain range. All year round, the wind and sand storms rage. The building of a 36-kilometer anti-leaking channel and planting of 60,000 trees has provided a 6-kilometer environmentally friendly ecological shelter.

Once an ancient post of the Silk Road, the West China Development Project road construction, passing through a scattering of sparsely populated towns.

At present, a wave of 'road construction' throughout Xinjiang has made almost every prefecture, county, village or town accessible by road. Ninety-six percent of towns and 52 percent of administrative villages have access to telephone lines. During the 'Tenth Five-year Draft', Xinjiang plans to invest 6 billion US dollars to improve communication and transportation.

Convenient transportation makes touring throughout the regions of Xinjiang easier. Each year, more and more tourists from all over the world are attracted to Xinjiang.

This year is the tenth consecutive Urumqi foreign economics and trade Fair. Each year, government officials, businessmen and international guests attend this 8-day conference here at the International Exhibition Center to promote the economic practices in Xinjiang's foreign trade zone.

More than 10,000 businessmen from China or overseas, participate in each Urumqi foreign economics and trade fair. The international trade volume amounts to 1 billion US dollars, and domestic volume reaches 2.4 billion US dollars.

It would seem the economic future of Xinjiang is assured. With the discovery of further fuel resources, the region will attract future investment in the production of petroleum base products as well as industries, which require a clean and economic source of energy. Compared with eastern China, these regions are still developing, but the future employment and life opportunities for the younger generation in these regions have never looked so good.