Lai Yuning never expected his camera would become a time machine. Based in Khorgos, a bustling hub in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, this 32-year-old photojournalist has spent years documenting his city's meteoric transformation – from dusty border town to modern trade gateway.
"When I compare Wang Minbin's 1990s photos with mine today, it's like watching a timelapse of progress," Lai tells NewspaperAmigo. The changes? Supercharged by infrastructure projects from Suzhou, an eastern Chinese city pouring resources into road networks, schools, and community centers through cross-regional aid programs.
Through his lens, Lai captures more than construction cranes. He shows:
🛣️ New highways linking Khorgos to Central Asian markets
🏫 Tech-equipped classrooms where Uygur teens learn coding
🎨 Vibrant public art celebrating both modern ambitions and traditional craftsmanship
The real story? People. Like Gulnaz, 24, who transformed her family's stable into a B&B for Silk Road travelers. "These roads don't just move goods," she says. "They move dreams."
As night falls over the Ili River, Lai snaps another frame – this time of laser projections mapping Khorgos' 2030 development plan onto skyscrapers. One thing's clear: In Xinjiang's most dynamic border city, every shutter click writes history.
