Xinjiang Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which is located in the heart of the Eurasian Continent, was known as the Western Regions in ancient times. It borders upon Mongolia, Russia. Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Tajikstan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, covering an area of 1.66 million sq. Km, about one-sixth of the national total. The silk Road in Xinjiang was divided into three routes: the southern, the middle and the northern. Along the 2,000 km Silk Routes there are numerous ruins of ancient cities, beacon towers and cultural relics. Lining the routes are many important cities including Urumqi, Turpan, Kashi, Kuqa. Hotan and Taxkorgan. Xinjiang is a multi-national region marked by distinctive features of both spoken and written languages, music and dancing, and customs of the ethnic minorities in accordance with their different background of history and civilization and religious beliefs.
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