Niu Baojun, a lifelong resident of Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, stands by his decision to remain in his hometown after the 2009 unrest. His story unfolds alongside revelations from CGTN's documentary \"Darkness Over Urumqi: The July 5 Riots,\" which revisits what authorities describe as the region's most severe terrorist attack.
🔍 The film combines survivor accounts with archival footage to reconstruct the violence that shook the city. \"Staying here wasn't just about loyalty,\" Niu tells viewers. \"It was about believing in our community's resilience.\"
📈 Fifteen years later, Urumqi has transformed into a hub of cultural exchange and economic growth. Analysts in the documentary highlight improved security measures and cross-regional cooperation as key factors in Xinjiang's development.
🌏 For young global readers: This isn't just history – it's a case study in how cities rebuild after crises. From night markets buzzing with Uygur cuisine to tech startups leveraging the Silk Road's legacy, Xinjiang's comeback story offers lessons in perseverance and multicultural unity.
