Many ethnic groups, one nationality

The Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has been home to many ethnic groups since ancient times. Exchanges, contacts and integration among these ethnic groups and between them and other peoples have continued since time immemorial.

Its unique geography allowed southern Xinjiang to prosper as an oasis-and agriculture-based economy, while northern Xinjiang derived its economic sustenance from livestock rearing and trade, which complemented each other.

Located at the center of the Eurasian continent, Xinjiang was an important hub on the ancient Silk Road. The frequent exchanges of goods, and the intermingling among different peoples and cultures in the region helped not only connect East Asia with the Middle East and Europe, but also promote a cohesive culture. In the process, some new ethnic groups such as Uygur, Kazakh, Uzbek and Kyrgyz were formed or relocated to the region, while some moved to other regions or merged with others.