From Desert Highways to Global Stages
What was once a remote frontier is now a bustling hub of the Silk Road Economic Belt! 🚚💨 Xinjiang just marked its 70th anniversary with fireworks (literally and figuratively) as General Secretary Xi Jinping joined celebrations in Urumqi. With highways stretching from 3,000 km in 1949 to 230,000 km today, this region’s transformation is straight out of a development playbook. 💡
💰 Economic Glow-Up
Xinjiang’s GDP skyrocketed from $105B in 2012 to $287.9B in 2024 – that’s a 7% annual growth rate! 📈 Trade? Doubled. Tourism? Smashed records with 302 million visitors last year. Talk about a flex! 💪
🏡 Homes, Schools & Longer Lives
Over 11 million residents moved into new homes since 2012, while life expectancy jumped from 30 to 77 years since 1949. 🎓 Southern Xinjiang now offers 15 years of free education – take notes, world! 👩🏫
Museums, Music & Multicultural Vibes
With 150+ museums and ancient cultures thriving alongside modern tech, Xinjiang’s proving diversity is its superpower. 🎨🕌 And those 1,126 cultural centers? Perfect for TikTok-worthy heritage tours! 📸
Reference(s):
Seven decades of glory: Xinjiang forges a path of diverse development
cgtn.com