Xinjiang Diary Day 8: Saying goodbye to Xinjiang and the XPCC

By Doris: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail CRI, July 17, 2014

The Empare lavender farm attracts a lot of people every year especially in June. The photo shows the observation tower at the lavender farm on Monday July 14,2014. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]

In northern Xinjiang, outside the city of Yi-ning, there's a field awash with blue and purple lavender flowers. These fragrant plants are widely used throughout the cosmetic world in perfumes, soaps, hand creams and even foot creams.

Lavender was first found in Provence, France, and its seeds were brought to Xinjiang via traders and travellers hundreds of years ago. Legend has it that there once was a princess who became a concubine of the prolific Qing Dynasty emperor, Qianlong, because she smelled like lavender. Her name was Epare and the Epare Lavender Gardens near Yi-ning is named after her.

Not only does lavender have a distinct scent, they are undeniably beautiful. Their beauty is even more prominent when these flowers adorn acres upon acres of land. Climbing up a tower in the field and looking out toward the horizons, the surreal beauty seems like an illusion.

I understand why people want to live in Xinjiang; although there are areas where living could be filled with hardship, there are also many places with wide expanses of land filled with natural beauty.

The people here and their way of life is as beautiful as the scenery. Whether they are farming the fields, making clothes or playing Drobo C a traditional Uyghur instrument C Xinjiang's people seem to be living life to the fullest.

From beautiful landscapes to its rich culture, Xinjiang is a place unlike any other and I had the pleasure of seeing just a small part of it in the short time that I have spent here. I have tasted Xinjiang's red wine, the spicy food and the sweet honeydew melons. I also met a lot of interesting people from many cultural groups and enjoyed listening to their stories.

Boasting beautiful landscapes and rich culture, Xinjiang is a place unparalleled in the world. I feel lucky to have had the pleasure of exploring the nuances of this area in my much-too-short visit here. However, whether I was tasting the region's fine delicacies or meeting the warm, kindhearted people that call this place home, I can't help but feel a sense of accomplishment from having experienced Xinjiang.

I will miss this place and hope to be back to see more of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

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