An ethnic melting pot's music has mountains humming

After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and in the embrace of the motherland, changes in Xinjiang's social scenes have been breathtaking. Especially since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, under the guidance of the Party's strategy for work related to Xinjiang in the New Era, and with the strong support from all over the country, more than 25 million people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have leveraged their wisdom and compassion, worked in unity, and achieved a decisive victory over a well-off society in an all-round way during their decisive battle to get rid of poverty. A historic achievement has been made.

Since the reform and opening-up in 1978, with the rapid development of China's western region, the construction of the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt, the economic development of the north and south of Tianshan Mountains has begun to gain pace and may even take wing, and people's living standards have been greatly improved. People of all ethnic groups have big hopes and dreams for the future.

On Feb 25, a great day destined to be recorded in history, President Xi Jinping solemnly declared at the National Poverty Alleviation Summary and Commendation Conference that through the joint efforts of the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups, and at the important moment of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the country's poverty alleviation battle has been fully victorious and completed. The arduous task of eradicating absolute poverty has created another miracle in the annals of history. This also means that the 25 million people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have completely got rid of poverty, a chronic disease that have plagued the region for hundreds of years, and they are about to enter a well-off society along with the people across the country.

Standing on the top of the Tianshan Mountains, one could easily watch white clouds leisurely floating in the air. Looking north one couldn't miss the boundless forest of Altai Mountains, and to the south wide expanses spread out to the horizon where the sun casts its glorious rays on Kunlun Mountains. It's an impressive demonstration of the continuing transformation of a very ancient landscape into a new one. Here with social stability, economic development, improvement of people's livelihood, national unity, religious harmony and a good ecology, people of all ethnic groups are striding forward on the broad road of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

With yearning for a better life and true feelings of attachment, nearly 20 photographers organized by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and China Photographers Association went to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region last September to hold a creative and live photographing activity called "Deep in Life, Root of the People", and there they used their lens capturing a large number of photographic moments reflecting Xinjiang's rapid changes and the happy lives of people of all ethnic groups. Based on the results of this collection, more than 100 excellent works have been selected to showcase how people of all ethnic groups pursue a happy and beautiful life in Xinjiang since the second central symposium on work related to Xinjiang in 2014.

Li Ge, chairman of the China Photographers Association, said that the artists have overcome great difficulties, worked tirelessly, and probed deep into the grassroots to discover real beauty. The focus on the ordinary people reflects the unique colors and charms of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang.

Let us follow the photographers' lens to appreciate the spirit of the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang today, the colorful social life and the picturesque mountains and rivers. Singing softly to the wind and sunshine, people in Xinjiang enjoy the dance and wish the motherland a better tomorrow.