In contrast to Omar, Rahman Abdulla, a 62-yearold Uygur musical instrument maker in Shufu County, Kashgar Prefecture, is satisfied with the status quo of handing down the family skill, a craftsmanship that has lasted for more than a century. His four sons have all learned to make instruments from him, and he presently has more than 30 students. Rahman is ranked among the national-level successors of intangible cultural heritage. He receives 10,000 yuan ($1,600) in subsidies from the government for his contribution to the inheritance and passing down of folk craftsmanship.
Rahman's oldest son has opened an instrument shop in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang, to sell his family's products. His other sons stay at home to make instruments including the rawap, the dutar and the sitar, all staples of the Uygur traditional musical scene.
It has been over 50 years since Rahman first started to make traditional instruments. Over the past few decades, his products have evolved substantially in terms of the artisan skills involved and their appearance, which have changed with the passage of time and shifts in people's tastes.
"In our Uygur population, every family has at least one instrument, and thus the demand for folk instruments is high," Rahman said.
Rahman and his sons have had to work hard to meet the increasing demand. Normally, an average rawap takes two to three days to make, but some instruments of higher quality and superior design require one or two weeks. A good-quality instrument may sell between 5,000 yuan ($800) and 6,000 yuan ($960). To master the art of making instruments, it takes roughly three to five years. But Rahman still thinks none of his sons have yet surpassed him in terms of raw skill. Many of his students have opened their own workshops across Kashgar Prefecture and even in other locations in Xinjiang. At present, Rahman is providing tutelage to the young children of his relatives.
In Rahman's village, famous for its tradition of producing instruments, there are around 270 families involved in instrumentmaking businesses.
Tourist attractions
The large-scale historical ruins along the ancient Silk Road have borne witness to the rich history of the western region of China, and the exotic culture influenced by a mix of 13 ethnic groups in the autonomous region has long proved appealing to people outside.
Joshua Porat, an Israeli retiree, is one of those fascinated by the unique culture of Xinjiang.
He is a member of a tour group of 25 people who have just undertaken a Silk Road trip. They have traveled across China for more than two weeks and Xinjiang represents their final port of call in the country.
"We like very much all the parts along the Silk Road, the mountains, valleys and animals," he said.
Porat's group spent a total of two days in Kashgar. They visited the old town, Id Kah Mosque and even went to the home of a Uygur family where together they ate, sang and danced with local people. He also celebrated his 77th birthday there, an unforgettable experience for him.
But Porat also expressed disappointment at the dearth of English-language signs in Kashgar. "It was not convenient for tourists," he said.
But even the language barrier cannot suppress visitors' passion for Xinjiang, especially when those foreigners are China scholars. Marco Perusi, a sinologist from Verona in north Italy, came to Xinjiang primarily to explore the culture of the Silk Road.
He is a leader of a visiting group that comprises members of a Confucius Institute class in Verona that teaches Chinese language and culture.
"Our group have 23 people. We all study Chinese language, Chinese history and Chinese culture, and so we are very interested in every part, every aspect of China," Perusi said.
They came to China three weeks ago and spent two weeks in Xinjiang. Kashgar represents the last leg of their trip in Xinjiang, following Turpan in north Xinjiang and Urumqi.
"Before we came here, we studied many materials about Xinjiang and the Silk Road, and from the beginning, we feel very safe, although it was a little bit difficult if without the help of travel agencies, as Xinjiang is too big," he said.
Graziella Andreoli, a member of the Italian group, agreed that although the trip across Xinjiang was exhausting, it was worthwhile.
"I am studying Chinese, and our teacher organized this trip. Xinjiang is so beautiful, and we are impressed very much. The trip is fantastic," said Andreoli, although she was momentarily unable to remember all the names of the places her group had visited.
According to a member of staff at the hotel where Perusi lived in Kashgar, this summer, it has not been uncommon for the hotel to receive up to five foreign tour groups a day.
Kashgar, however, is but one jewel in Xinjiang's crown. Different parts of the westernmost region of China possess their own unique charm. The region borders eight countries, more than any other provincial-level region in China. Ethnic groups make up 60 percent of Xinjiang's total population of 22 million. It is also a place where many different religions converge. Though it may have seemed mysterious to outsiders in the past, today more and more people are stepping onto the soil of Xinjiang to appreciate the beauty of this, the pearl of the Silk Road.
