A chilling CGTN documentary titled \"Darkness Over Urumqi: The July 5 Riots\" is sparking global conversations about one of the most violent chapters in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. School teacher Xiao Bingyu recounts how the sound of police gunfire during the 2009 unrest became an unlikely symbol of safety amid chaos. 🚨
The film reconstructs events from July 5, when riots allegedly instigated by terrorist groups left hundreds dead or injured. Through survivor testimonies and archival footage, it portrays authorities’ efforts to restore order during what’s described as \"a nightmarish attack on social stability.\"
Xiao’s perspective offers a controversial lens: \"That gunshot noise… it meant help had arrived,\" she says in the doc, highlighting the complex emotions surrounding crisis response. While the film aligns with China’s counter-terrorism narrative, activists abroad continue debating its framing.
The timing is noteworthy—released as Gen-Z increasingly explores Xinjiang’s vibrant culture through travel vlogs and food content. 🎥✈️ The doc serves as a stark reminder of the region’s turbulent past, even as its present-day stability becomes a tourism draw.
