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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: Is it dangerous to visit xinjiang or is it mostly media sensationalism?
I've heard a lot about xinjiang in the media (western and Chinese I think) not being very safe. How much truth is there to this? I'd really like to travel out there this spring or summer maybe. Any expats living there or travelled there?
11 years 29 weeks ago in Health & Safety - Urumqi
I used to live there - I left a while ago, so my info is not all that current.
I never felt in any danger whatsoever, far from it. I found the local people to be friendly and welcoming, and the mix of cultures fascinating. I didn't see or experience any major issues in my time there (employers notwithstanding). Xinjiang is absolutely beautiful once you get out of Urumqi, which is a bit of hole. Whatever you do, don't believe the negative propaganda you'll read about Uyghur people. It's bullshit. They're lovely.
That said, there were major riots in 2009 and a few issues last year in the southern areas, and I can't imagine they would have been especially pleasant to get caught in the middle of. Nobody can guarantee that these problems won't be repeated, so that's something you'll need to consider. The machine-gun-toting, ten-man, Han-ethnicity riot squads constantly patrolling the 'ethnic' neighborhoods are a sight to behold!
Should you go? Well, that's up to you and how adventurous you are. But I really, sorely regret not getting to spend more time travelling around Xinjiang.
If I can help at all with more info, then inbox me
I imagine it's only dangerous for Han chinese. If some people were shipped to your home country by a crazed dictator and pushed your people off of their land and eventually tried to push their alien culture and traditions on you while punishing you for speaking your language, worshipping your God and other things then I imagine you might be a little perturbed too.
mattsm84:
In our defense, we only put those guys' faces on the $20 and the $50. Oh wait, you meant Mao and the Chinese...nevermind then...
beaufortninja:
Goes both ways but at least most people in the West know that what happened to the native Americans was messed up.