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According to the region's 2016 government work report, the region received a record 20 million tourists from home and abroad in 2015, contributing 28 billion yuan ($3.72 billion) to the tourism industry-27.5 percent of the region's GDP.
Great progress!
Next time, I will go to Ali Prefecture or Linzhi Prefecture.

Linzhi
 
This is very good news for the folks in the rural and remote areas.
Turning a disadvantage into an advantage!
It's more than just building folk hotels and preserving the pristine environment.
Also needed is a tourist friendly culture, a safe tourist environment.
Very important is
the infrastructure (transportation, utilities, sewage facilities, etc).
All these and more to support the tourism in rural areas.


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Reinventing a rural lifestyle
2016-09-15 11:48 | China Daily Editor: Xu Shanshan


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The view of Xianrendong from a local inn. (Photos by Yang Feiyue / China Daily)


Xianrendong village, which drew 3 million visitors last year, once faced a shortage of food.

Twenty years ago, Xianrendong was a village which was short of food. There were basically no industries, including tourism. Local villages mostly could only rely on meager incomes from growing crops on their own small patch of land.

But now, as we took a boat to the village early August, we could see yellow-brick houses of two or three stories at the foot of green mountains as we traveled along a shimmering river to get there.

Besides, lush grass laid siege to the houses.

The villagers wore big smiles and gave us a warm welcome as we stepped ashore.

The village, which sits in Qiubei county in the Wenshan prefecture of southwestern China's Yunnan province, is home to 196 households and comprises the Sani people belonging to the Yi ethnic group.

"Most of us earned only 300 yuan ($45.1) each in 1993," says Fan Chengyuan, a local villager.

"But now our annual income can be as much as 30,000 yuan."

Fan was one of the first in the village to escape the poverty trap.

The 36-year-old worked as a tuner at a hotel in Qiubei for six years from the age of 19, and during this period he studied catering and hotel services.

He opened a restaurant in his village after he left the hotel becoming one of the few locals who had their own business.

Later, in 2005, as he sensed that local tourism was set to grow, he built farmhouses with his 1-million-yuan savings.

His bet paid off as the number of visitors began to surge in the following years.

Soon, there weren't enough rooms.

But problems followed too.

Soon, everything descended into chaos.

There was no proper sewage system in place.

And, many villagers blindly took down their houses and tried to build tall modern-looking buildings, which were not consistent with the surrounding scenery.

Fan was elected head of the village in 2012 and tried to make things right.

He guided the locals to build folk hotels.

Soon, private folk hotels sprung up across the village, and became a well-known tourism attraction in the county.

"High-rise buildings shouldn't have been built in a village, where only folk dwellings fit" says Fan.

Fan's own hotel Chachaya covers an area of 700 square meters and offers 11 rooms.

Business has been brisk and Fan's bank mortgage of 2.6-million-yuan has basically been paid up.

Now, the village is showing signs of prosperity.

There is no foul smell of sewage, and parking lots have been built.

On a typical morning, villagers wake up early and prepare breakfast for their guests.

The morning market is something one should not miss.

It was filled with people, and local specialties and fresh vegetables are displayed for sale.

The crowds begin to thin out at around 11.

Meanwhile, the Puzhehei scenic spot where Xianrendong is located now attracts a lot of attention.

It came into prominence after it was featured in the hit reality show Dad, Where Are We Going? in 2013.

Liu Zhao from Chengdu the capital of Sichuan province, says: "It's a great place for a family trip, and has made my visit worthwhile."

Liu brought his wife and six-year-old daughter to the area for the summer vacation.

He got to know of the place through the reality show.

The area is very family friendly

While children can play at a playground at the end of the village, adults can hang out at local inn, savoring red wine, or cycle along the river and admire the pristine natural environment featuring karst landform, willow trees and a profusion of lotus.

Some visitors splash water on each other, while others join dances initiated by locals.

The increasing fame of the area is now also drawing visitors from abroad, who come mostly to savor the natural beauty, a tour guide says.

Tim Roger from the UK says: "Everything is beautiful here, and I like the scenery and the people."

The area received 1.4 million visitors in the first six months of this year, generating 810 million yuan in income.

In 2015, 3 million visitors came, contributing 1.7 billion yuan in income.

Tourism has undoubtedly greatly benefited Xianrendong.

As Fan says: "Earlier most of villagers relied on agriculture for a living, but now the farmhouse business is doing well and many young people have returned home to start businesses.

One of them is Fan Haixiang, 23, who has returned from Shanghai, and is currently managing her family inn.

The inn is filled almost on a daily basis, she says, adding that daily income can sometimes hit 10,000 yuan.

But she is not an exception and many like her are flocking back and devoting themselves to the local tourism business.

Earlier, girls from the village used to typically get married at 20, but now many are delaying getting hitched as they are very busy with work.

Looking at the future, Fan hopes that the villagers will return to a traditional way of life and visitors will come and envy their unique lifestyle.
 
Behold the stunning beauty of northwest China's Dunhuang
(chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-09-18 13:33

Dunhuang, home to China's renowned World Heritage site –the Mogao Caves, will host this year's Silk Road International Culture Expo from September 20 to October 10.

The Northwestern Chinese city, located in Gansu province, was an important stop along the ancient Silk Road connecting China with Central Asia and Europe.


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Mingsha Mountain's rolling hills in Dunhuang city, northwest China's Gansu province, Sept 6, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]


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A road runs through the Yadan landscape in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu province, Sept 8, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]


Dunhuang,Gansu,Crescent-Spring.(3).9Sep2016.jpg

A bird's eye-view of the Crescent Spring (Yue Ya Quan) on Mingsha Mountain, in northwest China's Gansu province, Sept 9, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua
 
Behold the stunning beauty of northwest China's Dunhuang
(chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-09-18 13:33

Dunhuang, home to China's renowned World Heritage site –the Mogao Caves, will host this year's Silk Road International Culture Expo from September 20 to October 10.

The Northwestern Chinese city, located in Gansu province, was an important stop along the ancient Silk Road connecting China with Central Asia and Europe.


View attachment 335570
Mingsha Mountain's rolling hills in Dunhuang city, northwest China's Gansu province, Sept 6, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]


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A road runs through the Yadan landscape in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu province, Sept 8, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]


View attachment 335572
A bird's eye-view of the Crescent Spring (Yue Ya Quan) on Mingsha Mountain, in northwest China's Gansu province, Sept 9, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua
Dunhuang to Golmud expressway and railway are nearly finished!
 
Dunhuang ready for the upcoming Silk Road International Culture Expo
(chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-09-19 13:26

The first Silk Road International Culture Expo will open in Dunhuang, Northwest China's Gansu province, on Tuesday, Sept 20 and run until Sept 21.

Over 8,500 rare items from over 60 countries will be displayed at the expo, including masterpieces by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, French painter Eugene Delacroix and influential Chinese painter Qi Baishi, among many others.

As an important stop along the ancient Silk Road connecting China and the outside world, Dunhuang is widely known for the Moga Caves - a World Heritage Site.

Now the city has been spruced up and rejuvenated by the local government to welcome visitors worldwide.


Dunhuang,Gansu.(1)_18Sep2016.jpg

The ancient gate tower of Dunhuang is seen en route to the city on Sept 18, 2016. [Photo/IC]


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The Dunhuang Silk Road International Convention and Expo Center. Sept 18, 2016. [Photo/IC]


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The 32-kilometer-long avenue along Mingsha Mountain, in Dunhuang, Sept 18, 2016. [Photo/IC]


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A riverside scene in Dunhuang, Gansu province, Sept 18, 2016. [Photo/IC]


Dunhuang,Gansu.(5)_18Sep2016_frescoes-animation.jpg

Viewing the famed Dunhuang frescoes in 3-D animations, in Dunhuang, Gansu, Sept 18, 2016. [Photo/IC]
 
D
Dunhuang ready for the upcoming Silk Road International Culture Expo
(chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-09-19 13:26

The first Silk Road International Culture Expo will open in Dunhuang, Northwest China's Gansu province, on Tuesday, Sept 20 and run until Sept 21.

Over 8,500 rare items from over 60 countries will be displayed at the expo, including masterpieces by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, French painter Eugene Delacroix and influential Chinese painter Qi Baishi, among many others.

As an important stop along the ancient Silk Road connecting China and the outside world, Dunhuang is widely known for the Moga Caves - a World Heritage Site.

Now the city has been spruced up and rejuvenated by the local government to welcome visitors worldwide.


View attachment 336048
The ancient gate tower of Dunhuang is seen en route to the city on Sept 18, 2016. [Photo/IC]


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The Dunhuang Silk Road International Convention and Expo Center. Sept 18, 2016. [Photo/IC]


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The 32-kilometer-long avenue along Mingsha Mountain, in Dunhuang, Sept 18, 2016. [Photo/IC]


View attachment 336052
A riverside scene in Dunhuang, Gansu province, Sept 18, 2016. [Photo/IC]


View attachment 336053
Viewing the famed Dunhuang frescoes in 3-D animations, in Dunhuang, Gansu, Sept 18, 2016. [Photo/IC]
holy crap....
3 years after my trip to the Silk Road....so many changes......
Last time, the road to Mingsha Mountain (singing sand mountain) was OK, but no so much green!!!
I had to cover myself from sand!
Damn it!
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China-Eurasia Expo opens in NW China
(Xinhua) 18:56, September 20, 2016

The fifth China-Eurasia Expo opened in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Tuesday.

The expo held in the regional capital of Urumqi drew participants from more than 2,000 domestic and foreign companies.

Delegates from 57 countries and regions, and six global organizations were present at this year's event, alongside 3,500 professional purchasers, according to organizers.

A total of 15 ministerial forums and activities will be held, with about 200 domestic and foreign ministerial-level guests set to attend the six-day international fair.

Xinjiang hopes to use the expo to help boost local economic growth, said Chen Quanguo, secretary of the regional Party committee.

The fourth expo saw more than 6 billion U.S. dollars worth of foreign trade contracts signed with Chinese companies.
 
Tibet: airline passengers reach 1.55 mln in 6 months

2015-07-10, China.org.cn

Tibet Airlines launched ten regular flights including Nyingchi-Guangzhou, Lhasa-Nanchong-Hangzhou, Lhasa-Kangding-Chengdu and other seven ones on the first half year of 2015. At the same time, the number of Chengdu-Lhasa-Katmandu, Lhasa-Zhengzhou, Lhasa-Beijing flights is increased. Until now, there are 9 airline companies running in Tibet, and 58 flight routes linking 38 cities of other provinces of China with southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region.

The Airline Bureau of T.A.R. has put through 1.55 million passengers on the first half year, which is 17.2% higher over the same period of the last year. 16,549 flights were ensured safely landing and the volume of goods reached 11909.2 tons, an increase of 19.3% and 3.8% separately.

***

"One-on-one"medical aid to be provided to Tibet's hospitals this year
Tibet Online 2015-07-13

A new model of "one-on-one" medical aid targeted to Tibet's prefecture-level hospitals from top hospitals of the provinces and cities concerned was introduced on July 3 this year, Xinhua reported.

According to the Medical Personnel’s Research Assessment Work Forum, the new model refers to the practice in which China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission and hospitals of the relevant provinces and cities, organized teams of medical experts to help improve management and train medical personnels in the targeted Tibetan hospitals.

This type of aid will be provided for three years, with each batch’s rotation lasting generally not less than a year, according to an official.

Medical assistance required will come from the earmarked funding which takes up one per thousandth of the total GDP of each province and city.

In August of this year, the first batch of medical team from each province and city will be dispatched to Tibet as a pilot.

By August 2016, the medical personnel will be sent together with the eighth batch of aid-Tibet cadres.

Since 1994, after the establishment of a targeted aid policy in Tibet, the Central Government along with various provinces and cities have selected and sent seven batches of medical personnel to seven cities in Tibet, constituting 414 cadres.

At present, the seventh batch consists of 165 people distributed throughout Tibet –68 of whom are placed in medical and health institutions at county level.

In addition, more than half of 212 short-term medical personnel, who has given strong support to the development of medical and health services in Tibet.

Zeng Wanming, minister of the Organisation Department of the Tibet Autonomous Region Party Committee, said that the new model of medical aid is expected to improve the level of health care services of the recipient hospitals and benefits people of all ethnic groups, an innovative move to promote the development of medical and health services in Tibet.
 
The OBOR is doing wonders to Xinjiang's economy.

========
Direct yuan trading benefits Xinjiang businesses
CCTV.com

09-21-2016 16:34 BJT


The Chinese government is building Xinjiang as a financial center on the silk road economic belt. CCTV's reporter Yang Chengxi is in Xinjiang to observe some of the progress on the front.

This is Kashgar. Located on the western border of Xinjiang. It's home to a host of companies with cross-boarder operations. Local banks have launched direct trading of the yuan with neighboring countries. Bank of China for example, has rolled out yuan trading with Kazakstan, Pakistan and Tajikistan.

Head of Bank of China's Xinjiang branch, Dou Bo, said, "This year we launched direct trading with Turkey's Lira. Yuan forex trading with countries along the belt and road region will help the internationalization of the RMB, and help Chinese businesses go global."

Cross-border yuan loans are making business more convenient. China Construction Bank launched a service last December that allowed companies in Kashgar to borrow yuan in neighboring countries. Kashgar's businesses say they are feeling the benefits.

Deputy general manager of Xinjiang Huadian Kashgar, Wang Lei, said, "This February we borrowed 100 million yuan. In July we borrowed 100 million more. The bank charges about 10 percent lower interest. That helps us save costs. The procedure is also simple."

Chinese and international bankers said at a financial forum in Urumqi that Xinjiang is moving towards becoming a financial center that supports the development of the Silk Road economic belt.

Head of econ.unit of Asian Development Bank, Jurgen Conrad, said, "Even with slowing economic growth nationwide, Xinjiang's financial sector has expanded by some 17.3 billion yuan. That's solid 10-percent growth that makes finance a bright spot in this frontier region."
 
Xinjiang firms eye Asia, Europe
By Li Xuanmin in Urumqi Source:Global Times Published: 2016/9/22 23:18:39

Textile, apparel companies find new opportunities

Textile and apparel enterprises in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region are actively seeking cooperation opportunities in neighboring countries in Asia and Europe at the ongoing 5th China-EuroAsia Expo, which is being held in the region's capital Urumqi.

About 121 Xinjiang enterprises participated this year's expo, a new high. Various textile and fabric products that are produced in Xinjiang, such as Idili silk, Hotan carpets and camel's hair textiles, are being presented during the five-day expo.

Zhu Xinlan, sales director of Xinjiang Yutai Camel Hair Textiles Co, told the Global Times on Thursday that during the expo, 12 foreign enterprises, including some from Russia, Pakistan and Kazakhstan, have shown strong interest in cooperation.

As the company continues to grow, Yutai is "carving out opportunities to expand into Asia and European countries," Zhu said, noting that as of Wednesday, the company had signed cooperation agreements worth around 20 million yuan ($3.15 million) with foreign companies.

Zhu also noted that her company has cooperated with designers in France and Italy to target European high-end consumers and increase brand awareness in that market.

An employee of an Idili silk merchant, who declined to be identified, agreed. He noted that Idili products are being transformed to appeal to modern fashion tastes and enter foreign markets. A company in India has consulted with his employer about reselling the products.

Some business representatives from companies in neighboring countries are participating in the expo especially because of the garments and carpets produced in Xinjiang.

"My company has long admired Xinjiang's textiles, especially the handicrafts that are not only exquisitely made, but also warm and light," Bijan Saadi, an employee from Persian Nippon Co in Pakistan, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

An Iranian businessmen named Saleem said that he is in talks with a Xinjiang gourmet manufacturer about importing raw materials.

The increase in opportunities to do business with Asian and European countries is fueled by Xinjiang's geographic location along "the Belt and Road" initiative and preferential government policies, industry players said.

"The time and cost of deliveries have shrunk a lot thanks to cross-border basic infrastructure building," Sun Xiuqin, vice president of the Xinjiang Clothes Association, told the Global Times on Thursday.

In line with "the Belt and Road" initiative, the Xinjiang government has rolled out a series of measures, including credit support and electricity subsidies, in a bid to prompt industry development, Sun said.

The textile industry in Xinjiang has seen rapid growth in the last two years. In 2015, its total fixed-assets value stood at 31.79 billion yuan, up 231 percent year-on-year, the People's Daily reported in March.

The "labor-intensive" textile industry has provided many job opportunities in Xinjiang, Sun said.

For example, 382 new textile firms emerged in 2015, creating a total of 97,000 jobs, said the report.
 
World's highest delivery service station established in China's Tibet
(chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-09-24



f8bc1269fd83194ffdcd29.jpg

Chinese courier and station chief Yang Tao poses at the Qomolangma delivery service station of Alibaba's Cainiao Logistics in Tashi Dzom township, Tingri county, Shigatse, Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, Sept 20, 2016. [Photo/IC]


Alibaba's logistics arm, Cainiao Network, set up the world's highest delivery service station in Southwest China's Tibet to expand businesses and services to far remote areas.

Located in Tashi Dzom in Tingri county with the altitude of 4,119 meters at the foot of Qomolangma, the station is managed by young Chinese man Yang Tao and his father who ran a vegetable store in the town.

Yang, born in 1990s, has to drive his pickup for hours to the county seat of Tingri and back periodically to fetch parcels from online shopping, mainly from Alibaba's shopping sites Taobao and Tmall, as delivery of packages stops in Tingri after being sent by air to Shigatse. And then parcel recipients come to his station to pick up their packages.

The service station brings much convenience and more products to the small town with a population of about 7,400.

f8bc1269fd83194ffac408.jpg

Chinese courier and station chief Yang Tao carries parcels from online shopping into the Qomolangma delivery service station of Alibaba's Cainiao Logistics, Sept 20, 2016. [Photo/IC]

f8bc1269fd83194ffaca0a.jpg

A car travels on the road from the county seat of Tingri to Tashi Dzom township in Shigatse, Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, Sept 18, 2016. [Photo/IC]


f8bc1269fd83194ffacf0d.jpg

Yang Tao, left, learns using logistics softwares on his laptop computer at the Qomolangma delivery service station of Alibaba's Cainiao Logistics, Sept 20, 2016. [Photo/IC]


f8bc1269fd83194ffad511.jpg

Yang Tao puts parcels from online shopping on the shelf at the Qomolangma delivery service station of Alibaba's Cainiao Logistics, Sept 20, 2016. [Photo/IC]


f8bc1269fd83194ffae41c.jpg

Yang Tao drives his pickup from the Qomolangma delivery service station of Alibaba's Cainiao Logistics to fetch parcels in Tashi Dzom township, Sept 20, 2016. [Photo/IC]


f8bc1269fd83194ffae923.jpg

A view of a crooked mountain road in Tingri county, Shigatse, Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, Sept 18, 2016. [Photo/IC]
 
World's highest delivery service station established in China's Tibet
(chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-09-24



f8bc1269fd83194ffdcd29.jpg

Chinese courier and station chief Yang Tao poses at the Qomolangma delivery service station of Alibaba's Cainiao Logistics in Tashi Dzom township, Tingri county, Shigatse, Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, Sept 20, 2016. [Photo/IC]


Alibaba's logistics arm, Cainiao Network, set up the world's highest delivery service station in Southwest China's Tibet to expand businesses and services to far remote areas.

Located in Tashi Dzom in Tingri county with the altitude of 4,119 meters at the foot of Qomolangma, the station is managed by young Chinese man Yang Tao and his father who ran a vegetable store in the town.

Yang, born in 1990s, has to drive his pickup for hours to the county seat of Tingri and back periodically to fetch parcels from online shopping, mainly from Alibaba's shopping sites Taobao and Tmall, as delivery of packages stops in Tingri after being sent by air to Shigatse. And then parcel recipients come to his station to pick up their packages.

The service station brings much convenience and more products to the small town with a population of about 7,400.

f8bc1269fd83194ffac408.jpg

Chinese courier and station chief Yang Tao carries parcels from online shopping into the Qomolangma delivery service station of Alibaba's Cainiao Logistics, Sept 20, 2016. [Photo/IC]

f8bc1269fd83194ffaca0a.jpg

A car travels on the road from the county seat of Tingri to Tashi Dzom township in Shigatse, Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, Sept 18, 2016. [Photo/IC]


f8bc1269fd83194ffacf0d.jpg

Yang Tao, left, learns using logistics softwares on his laptop computer at the Qomolangma delivery service station of Alibaba's Cainiao Logistics, Sept 20, 2016. [Photo/IC]


f8bc1269fd83194ffad511.jpg

Yang Tao puts parcels from online shopping on the shelf at the Qomolangma delivery service station of Alibaba's Cainiao Logistics, Sept 20, 2016. [Photo/IC]


f8bc1269fd83194ffae41c.jpg

Yang Tao drives his pickup from the Qomolangma delivery service station of Alibaba's Cainiao Logistics to fetch parcels in Tashi Dzom township, Sept 20, 2016. [Photo/IC]


f8bc1269fd83194ffae923.jpg

A view of a crooked mountain road in Tingri county, Shigatse, Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, Sept 18, 2016. [Photo/IC]

Do you think Mr. Yang practice much drifting? Look at these curves on the road....
 
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/09/25/asia/xinjiang-china-travel/index.html

160912165507-xinjiang-22-super-169.jpg
The Karakoram Highway - stunning grasslands along the the Karakoram Highway, with the Tian Shan Range behind

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The Karakal Lake – A yurt houses a Tajik family along the Karakal Lake.

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The Karakul Lake – Otherworldly sand dunes behind Karakul Lake.

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Kashgar – Traditional Uyghur instruments on sale at the Kashgar Bazaar.

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Kashgar Livestock Market – Kashgar's famously fat-bottomed lambs at the Livestock Market.

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Kashgar livestock market – Cattle are chained to a fence, ready to be sold in the Kashgar livestock market.

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Kashgar – An Uyghur band perform at one of Xinjiang's many Byzantine-style restaurants.

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Karakoram Highway – A collection of yurts along the Karakoram Highway.
 
China to build outposts for Tajik guards on Tajikistan-Afghanistan border

26 September 2016

china-to-build-outposts-for-tajik-guards-on-tajikistan-afghanistan-border.jpg

A view of a bridge to Afghanistan across Panj river in Panji Poyon border outpost in southern Tajikistan Thomson Reuters

DUSHANBE (Reuters) - China plans to finance and build several outposts and other facilities to beef up Tajikistan's defense capabilities along its border with Afghanistan, the Tajik government said on Monday.

The Central Asian nation's 1,345-km border with its southern neighbor is leaky and Dushanbe routinely reports clashes between border guards and armed drug smugglers there.

The increased activity of Afghan Taliban in the northern Kunduz province is another source of concern.

A large part of the main highway connecting Tajikistan's most populous regions to China lies along the same border and armed trespassers this year kidnapped several Tajiks doing maintenance works on that road.

In a decree published on Monday, the government instructed the State National Security Committee to sign an agreement with the Chinese side which provides for the construction of eleven outposts of different sizes and a training center for border guards.

504868-tajikistan-afghanistan-afp.jpg


China, which according to official statistics sells goods worth $2.5 billion a year to Tajikistan has already built one outpost on the Tajik-Afghan border, its first one, earlier this year.

Russia used to station its own border guards on the frontier until 2005, and after that kept a regiment in the Tajik city of Kulyab, 42 km (25 miles) from the Afghan border. But Moscow pulled the regiment out in December last year and moved it to the capital, Dushanbe, about 200 km further away.

(Reporting by Nazarali Pirnazarov; Writing by Olzhas Auyezov Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)
Read the original article on Reuters. Copyright 2016.

reuters.jpg


http://www.businessinsider.com/r-ch...uards-on-tajikistan-afghanistan-border-2016-9
 
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/09/25/asia/xinjiang-china-travel/index.html

View attachment 338302The Karakoram Highway - stunning grasslands along the the Karakoram Highway, with the Tian Shan Range behind

View attachment 338307
The Karakal Lake – A yurt houses a Tajik family along the Karakal Lake.

View attachment 338314
The Karakul Lake – Otherworldly sand dunes behind Karakul Lake.

View attachment 338305
Kashgar – Traditional Uyghur instruments on sale at the Kashgar Bazaar.

View attachment 338311
Kashgar Livestock Market – Kashgar's famously fat-bottomed lambs at the Livestock Market.

View attachment 338313
Kashgar livestock market – Cattle are chained to a fence, ready to be sold in the Kashgar livestock market.

View attachment 338306
Kashgar – An Uyghur band perform at one of Xinjiang's many Byzantine-style restaurants.

View attachment 338308
Karakoram Highway – A collection of yurts along the Karakoram Highway.
Must upgrade it to expressway one day!
 

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