Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is located in northwest China, bordering Gansu to the east, Tibet to the south, several Central Asian countries to the west, Mongolia to the north, and about 2,000 miles from Beijing. The provincial capital, 乌鲁木齐, is the political, economic and cultural center of Xinjiang. Xinjiang has a long history and is an important part of the ancient Silk Road. It has a diverse ethnic culture. The population is about 25 million and the annual GDP is about US$700 billion. The five major cities in the province include Urumqi乌鲁木齐, Kashgar喀什, Yili伊犁, Karamay克拉玛依 and Shihezi石河子. Xinjiang’s major industries include energy, agriculture, textiles and tourism. Its unique natural scenery and ethnic culture make tourism an important economic pillar. Top 10 tourist attractions in Xinjiang: Heavenly Lake on Tianshan天山天池, Kanas Lake喀纳斯湖, Pamir Plateau帕米尔高原, Kashgar Old Town喀什古城, Turpan吐鲁番, Ili Valley伊犁河谷, Tarim Basin塔里木盆地, Shihezi石河子, Karamay Devil City克拉玛依魔鬼城, and Lop Nur罗布泊.
