"Wumashi" is a type of porridge commonly eaten by Uyghurs in Hotan, southern Xinjiang. It is made from cornmeal and seasoned only with salt and onions—no other condiments are added. It is typically eaten for breakfast. A more refined version of "Wumashi" begins with kneading a very firm dough using wheat flour, which is then chopped up with a knife and sifted through a sieve...
Xinjiang's Aidelaisi silk can be traditionally divided into four major categories: black Aidelaisi, red Aidelaisi, yellow Aidelaisi, and Shache-style Aidelaisi. Aidelaisi silk is a uniquely ethnic product of Xinjiang and is the fabric most favored by Uyghur women for making dresses. There are two main production areas: one in Kashgar and Shache...
Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps 14th Division Yimuchang is located in the southern part of Xinjiang, within Qira County of the Hotan region. It lies on the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert, on the northwestern slope of the Kunlun Mountains, surrounded by mountains on three sides, extending from the snow line down to the Gobi Desert. The terrain falls within high mountain, mid-mountain, and low mountain zones, with elevations ranging between 2,300 to 4,500 meters. The regimental headquarters...
Highland Snow Chrysanthemum is a wild herbaceous plant that grows in alpine regions at altitudes above 2,000 meters. It is distributed in the mountainous and sloped areas of some counties in Hotan, Kashgar, and Kizilsu. The flowering period of Highland Snow Chrysanthemum lasts up to three months, with an average of over a hundred flowers blooming per plant, making it excellent for tea. In 2000, wild snow chrysanthemum seeds were collected from the northern slope of the Kunlun Mountains at an altitude of 3,000–3,800 meters…
Yutian County is the home of large leaf purple alfalfa. Located within the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on the southern edge of the Tarim Basin, the county benefits from uniquely favorable natural conditions, making its alfalfa the best in growth, quality, and variety among the seven counties and one city in the region. As a result, Yutian is renowned for its extensive planting area and high yield of large leaf purple alfalfa. The region has been cultivating original strains of this alfalfa in its mountainous areas for over 40 years. According to the latest data, large leaf purple alfalfa has a long history of over two thousand years in western China.
Yutian Red Willow Cistanche is a specialty of Yutian County in the Hotan region of Xinjiang. Cistanche, a precious traditional Chinese medicinal herb, is a parasitic plant that grows on the roots of red willow trees and is also known as desert ginseng or Cistanche deserticola. In 2002, Yutian County was awarded the title "Home of Cistanche in China" by the National Ministry of Agriculture. The use of Yutian Red Willow Cistanche as an herbal medicine dates back over 1,800 years...
A nightingale begins to sing between two Yutian desert roses — one flown past to the left, one to the right... These are the flying roses, the dreamlike roses of Yutian folk songs. But the people of Yutian grow roses not primarily for ornamental purposes; the so-called “beautification of life” is more incidental. Their cultivation is mainly driven by practical (and edible) considerations...
The specialty of Hotan, cistanche, known as the "ginseng of the desert," is a perennial parasitic herbaceous plant. It often grows at the roots of desert plants such as saxaul, tamarisk, white thorn, salt cedar, and various types of wormwood, relying on these plants for nutrients and moisture. It can grow to a height of 50 to 75 centimeters in sandy soil without sunlight. In the...
Xinjiang has long been known as the “Land of Gold and Jade” and is one of China’s most famous jade-producing regions. The Hetian white jade (also called mutton-fat jade) produced here is regarded as China’s national jade. Xinjiang jade is known for its solid and compact texture, gleaming and smooth surface, as well as its warm and lustrous quality. Alongside Myanmar’s jadeite, it is considered one of the world’s two most prestigious types of jade. Among them, Xinjiang’s Hetian jade is the most renowned and is categorized by color...
Moyu County, under the administration of Hotan Prefecture in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is located at the northern foot of the Kunlun Mountains and the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert. It lies between longitude 79°08′–80°51′ east and latitude 36°36′–39°38′ north. To the east, it faces Hotan County across a river; to the west, it borders the Gobi Desert and connects with Pishan County; to the south, it reaches the northern foothills of the Karakoram Mountains…
The Black Jade Pomegranate is a specialty of Moyu County in Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang. The pomegranates from Moyu County are known for their large size and superior quality. Moyu County is located at the northern foot of the Kunlun Mountains, in the southwestern part of the Tarim Basin, on the western bank of the Karakash River. The area offers excellent light and heat conditions for plant growth as well as fertile soil. Fruit and forestry farming is one of the key industries that Moyu County is vigorously developing...
Hetian Inkwood Walnuts are a specialty of Qira County in Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang. The walnuts from Qira County mature early, have an excellent taste, and a high oil content, making their economic value 2 to 3 times higher than that of traditional walnut varieties. In recent years, Qira County has intensified its efforts to adjust the structure of its forestry and fruit industry. As a result, the county’s forestry and fruit sector has seen large-scale development, forming an emerging industrial pattern primarily centered on “walnuts, red dates, and…”
The Nixi Black Chicken is a specialty of Minfeng County in Hotan, Xinjiang. The registered protection area for the Nixi Black Chicken is Minfeng County, which was historically known as "Niya." Located in the eastern part of Hotan Prefecture in Xinjiang, it is referred to as the "Eastern Gateway to Hotan" and the "Bridgehead of Hotan." The discovery of black chicken feathers and bones in the ancient Kingdom of Jushi (now known as the Niya Ruins) indicates that black chickens were raised as early as 1…
Minfeng County has since ancient times been a place where nomadic peoples of western China thrived. Historical records such as “The Biography of Dayuan” in Records of the Grand Historian and “The Account of the Western Regions” in the Book of Han document that the two ancient states of Jieze and Ronglu during the Han and Jin dynasties were both located within the current boundaries of Minfeng County, with ruins still existing today — these are the earliest historical accounts related to Minfeng County. The county was established in 1944 and given the Chinese name…
Nyia Kunlun Snow Chrysanthemum is produced in Minfeng County, Hotan Prefecture, also known as Nyia. Nyia is an ancient place name, and the Nyia Ruins are the site of the ancient kingdom of Jushi during the Han and Jin dynasties. Locals drink Nyia Kunlun Snow Chrysanthemum as flower tea and present it as a sacred gift to honored guests—it is an essential part of local life. Nyia Kunlun Snow Chrysanthemum grows...
The Andier River Basin boasts unique natural conditions. The area is relatively isolated, with potassium-rich soil, abundant sunlight, a long frost-free period, significant day-night temperature variations, dry air, and mineral-rich water—making it highly suitable for melon cultivation. Melon farming in the Andier River Basin has a long history, but due to a lack of rational development and...
The Hetian Black Chicken is a dual-purpose local breed suitable for both meat and egg production. It is mainly distributed in the Hotan region, with a current population of about 123,000 birds. The chicken boasts excellent meat quality—tender and delicious—and is considered one of the more valuable health foods. Its breeding history dates back over 1,750 years to the time of the ancient kingdom of Jincheng (today’s Niya Ruins, located about 1…
Carpet production in Hetian has a history of over 2,000 years. Hetian carpets belong to the Eastern ethnic handcrafted carpet system, using semi-coarse wool fibers as raw materials. The carpets come in a wide variety of styles, with unique patterns, elegant designs, and rich colors. Among them, the eight major types including Anagu Qakiman and Ailikend are especially favored by international buyers. Located...
Yutian Ma Duck is a high-quality local breed suitable for both egg and meat production. It boasts strong adaptability, resilience, ease of breeding and management, high egg yield, disease resistance, and high survival rates. It is mainly distributed in Yutian County, yielding 23 tons of duck meat and 45 tons of eggs annually, with a current population of 12,861 ducks. Xinjiang Yutian County Animal Disease Control...
Hetian Longevity Jujube is a specialty of Yutian County in the Hotan region of Xinjiang. It is a variety of Jun jujube, characterized by large fruit with thin skin, thick flesh, and small pits. Yutian County is hailed as the “Home of Longevity Jujube in China.” Hetian Longevity Jujube is a branch of Jun jujube, named after its production in the Hotan region of Xinjiang, and is one of China’s native fruit tree species. The village of … in Yutian County…