Yasir Habib Khan

Silk Road on bustling development path Since of the establishment of Silk Road’s western region named Xinjiang, footprints of all-round development have been rooted into sand related health care system & sand tourism, modern green energy and ancient heritage preservation. The sand therapy & health preservation base is a professional health preservation institution directly affiliated to the public-run Shanshan County Uyghur Medicine Hospital. Nestled within the Kumtag Desert Scenic Area, a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, it enjoys the one-of-a-kind geographical advantage of being a desert located right in the heart of a city.

Adhering to the core concepts of integrated medical and elderly care, combined sand and medicinal therapy, inheritance of intangible cultural heritage, and integrated cultural and tourism development, the base relies on the hospital’s professional medical team to establish a dual indoor and outdoor sand therapy system, a full range of physiotherapy services, an intangible cultural heritage experience zone and complete supporting functional areas. A new experience area for intangible cultural heritage sachets has also been added to allow visitors to experience the charm of traditional intangible cultural heritage. Sand therapy has a long history in the Kumtag Desert of Shanshan County and stands as a distinctive local wellness regimen.

In recent years, its reputation has grown steadily, drawing tourists from all across China. Hot sand burial leverages geomagnetism and the strong adsorptive properties of sand to induce deep perspiration via temperature elevation, effectively draining internal dampness and bringing remarkable benefits to physical health. It is not only a traditional therapeutic approach but also a wellness practice with profound cultural value. Another aspects of silk road involving Xinjiang is two 1GW integrated "photovoltaic (PV) + concentrated solar power (CSP)" projects located at the clean energy base in Qiketai Town, Shanshan County, Xinjiang.

It  has achieved full-capacity grid connection, marking a new milestone in the development of new energy projects in Turpan, Xinjiang. Constructed respectively by SPIC Henan Electric Power Co., Ltd. and China Energy Engineering Group Zhejiang Thermal Power Construction Co., Ltd., the two integrated projects adopt the coordinated power generation model of "PV + CSP", which effectively improves the stability and efficiency of clean energy supply. The heliostats arranged around the CSP power tower together with photovoltaic panels form a spectacular "energy matrix" with massive arrays, creating an impressive power generation landscape. Upon grid connection, the two projects are expected to generate 4.13 billion kWh of clean electricity annually, equivalent to saving 1.08 million tons of standard coal and cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 3.73 million tons.

Ancient spectre of the region involves Bezeklik thousand buddha caves. They were first constructed during the Southern and Northern Dynasties. There are 83 surviving caves in total, more than 40 of which retain murals, with a total preserved mural area exceeding 1,200 square meters. Functionally, the caves fall into three categories: worship caves, monk residential caves, and portrait caves (for the interment of eminent monks). Architecturally, they adopt three main layouts: central pillar style, rectangular vaulted ceiling style, and square domed style with surrounding corridors. In 1982, the State Council designated the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

By the mid-15th century, amid the spread of Islam, the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves suffered severe damage in religious conflicts and fell into ruins. In the early 20th century, selfproclaimed foreign explorers flocked to Turpan under the pretext of archaeological research, looting and cutting off a large quantity of murals and cultural relics, inflicting another devastating blow to the heritage site. Occupying a pivotal position among China’s treasure trove of grotto art, the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves feature not only murals dominated by Chinese Buddhist traditions but also extremely precious Manichaean wall paintings.

Many murals are accompanied by inscriptions written in multiple scripts, including Chinese, Old Uyghur, Sanskrit and Tocharian. These rich and diverse murals together with multilingual inscriptions, especially the splendid Uyghur Buddhist art, constitute an integral part of Chinese culture.

They bear immense academic value for researching the evolution of history, culture and art in Turpan and Xinjiang as a whole, and carry profound practical significance for consolidating identification with Chinese culture.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China