Xinjiang Autonomous Region

Translation "New Frontier"

Xinjiang Autonomous Region is the largest area in China. It occupies one/sixth of the country. It has borders with eight foreign neighbors, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia. It is the driest province, with much of the land consisting of desert or mountains. Its people include 45 minority groups, constituting 62% of the population. of whom the Uighurs (wee gers) make up 47%. The clash of these diverse groups has long been a cause of friction. Xinjiang is China's top producer of cotton, hops, grapes and mutton and the second largest producer of beetroot and wool. Its oil reserves are highly encouraging.