Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, lying in the foothills of the Tianshan Mountains in north China, is charting a path of modernization that reflects China's vision for high-quality development.

At the heart of this transformation is the upgrading of traditional industries through intelligent manufacturing. Xinjiang Bayi Iron and Steel, which in 1952 ended the region's "no steel, no iron" history, has evolved into Xinjiang's largest steel enterprise. Where once workers relied on eyesight and experience, today intelligent control systems manage production remotely, while modern blast furnaces cut carbon emissions dramatically.

The hydrogen-rich, carbon-circulating oxygen blast furnace reduces emissions by nearly 600,000 tonnes annually, a breakthrough equivalent to planting a forest of 700 square kilometers. Even wastewater is repurposed. Black swans glide across lakes fed by the recycled water, turning industrial byproduct into ecological gain.

This rebirth of an old industry exemplifies how digitalization and green technology are driving Xinjiang's smart manufacturing.

Equally transformative is Xinjiang's role as a national energy hub. The country's largest integrated solar thermal and photovoltaic demonstration project is under construction in Hami in eastern Xinjiang. Cutting-edge linear Fresnel technology is being used to harness the brilliant desert sunlight. Around 260,000 mirrors covering more than 800,000 square meters will focus the sunlight onto a receiver to generate 148 million kilowatt-hours of clean solar power annually.

The Hami-Zhengzhou ultra-high-voltage direct current project—spanning over 2,000 kilometers—has become a "green artery" of power transmission, sending electricity, much of it renewable, across six provinces. In 2024 alone, the project transmitted 45.4 billion kilowatt-hours, over 40 percent of it from wind and solar, lighting homes and industries beyond Xinjiang's borders.

The story of Xinjiang's renewal is not limited to factories and power stations. Historical villages such as Tuyugou at the foot of the Flaming Mountains are being revitalized through cultural tourism. Their restored courtyards and expanded scenic areas draw thousands of visitors. In Turpan, villagers use livestreaming and e-commerce to sell grapes and dry fruit nationwide, blending tradition with modern entrepreneurship.

Rural industries, cultural preservation, and community prosperity are advancing hand in hand, creating new opportunities for inclusive development.

As China's gateway to the West, this vast region is writing a new chapter where tradition and modernity converge, where ecological stewardship and technological progress reinforce each other, and where ethnic diversity and shared prosperity have become pillars of national rejuvenation.