Xinjiang guide forms deep bonds with Taiwan visitors

For 26-year-old tour guide Dilinur Tursunjan, the connection with a visiting family from Taiwan has become more than just a job; it is an emotional bond she describes as "even closer than friendship".

Dilinur, a native of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, recently became a social media sensation after a video of her explaining the significance of the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel went viral, garnering millions of views. The video was captured by a tourist surnamed Lin, who traveled with Dilinur through northern Xinjiang in October 2025 and southern Xinjiang in March this year.

"Because the people need such a well-traveled road, our motherland can make high mountains give way and rivers bow down," Dilinur said in the video. "It is not that piercing through the Tianshan Mountains is easy, but that on the other side of Tianshan lie the people."

The Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang stretch 2,500 kilometers, historically dividing the region's north and south. The 22.13-km tunnel, the world's longest expressway tunnel, opened to traffic in December. The project has reduced a treacherous three-hour mountain trek to a 20-minute drive.

Construction crews worked at altitudes of 4,000 meters, battling oxygen deficiency and geological hazards including rock bursts and water inrushes. Despite these challenges, Chinese builders utilized innovative technologies to complete the drilling in 52 months.

"I'm deeply impressed by the tunnel's story," Dilinur said. "I'm very proud of this mega project, so all of the words are from my heart."

The infrastructure improvements are personal for Dilinur. Born in Artux, she moved 1,500 km to attend Xinjiang University of Finance and Economics in Urumqi. What was once an 18-hour drive has been cut to roughly 13 hours.

"Now it's more convenient for me to go back home," she said. "Tourists can also spend less time on the road and more time at attractions."

Lin, who discovered Dilinur through the Douyin social media platform, said she was moved by the realization that the tunnel was built to improve lives rather than simply to break records. Across two trips, the group visited landmarks including Sayram Lake, the Pamir Plateau, and the Kashgar Ancient City.

The relationship deepened when Dilinur invited the family to her home for a traditional meal of mutton, fig jam, and noodles. The gathering lasted until late night.

"It felt just like being at home," Lin said in a video of the gathering. "I'd only ever seen scenes like this on TV."

The bond has grown so strong that Dilinur invited the family to her future wedding, and Lin said she would love to wear traditional Uygur clothing for the occasion.

On their final day, the group extended their stay to celebrate the Roza Festival, or Eid al-Fitr, at Urumqi's Grand Bazaar.

Dilinur, who now has 500,000 followers on Douyin, uses her platform to showcase her home place. "I hope more people know the real Xinjiang, which is different from what is told by Western media," she said.

As the family departed, they expressed hope for a third trip — ideally, via a direct flight from Taipei to Urumqi, rather than the current transfer through Hong Kong. For Dilinur, the goal is now to feast on seafood and see the mountains of Taiwan in person.