The Kazanqi Folk Tourism District in Yining city of China has established itself as a distinctive multiethnic region with diverse culture in Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region.
The area is home to people from various ethnic groups, including Uygurs, Han, Hui, Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Xibe, Manchu, Russians, Mongols, Tatars, Tajiks and Kyrgyz.
Occupying an area of 22.9 square kilometers, of which 4.2 square kilometers have already been developed, Kazanqi is an unique and diverse ecological tourism complex.
Historically, the area was the production and sales center for folk handicrafts, featuring traditional craftsmanship, skilled artisans and the succession of folk customs from generation to generation. As most locals made their living by making and selling woks, they later named the place Kazanqi. “Kazanqi” in Uyghur means “a person who makes woks.”
Over the past 100 years, the Kazanqis have produced many handicrafts, such as leather shoe making, saddle and whip making, and tandoor ovens. Today, kazanqis still continue their craft, inherited from their ancestors.
In China, Xinjiang is called the homeland of song and dance. In the Kazanqi area, lively dancing is a must-see for any tourist, especially the Samovar dance is the highlight of the cultural performance.
The Samovar dance originated in Kucha County in Xinjiang in the 4th to 7th centuries AD. In the 38th pit of the Kezier Monastic Caves one can find an image of this dance. In June 2007, the Samovar dance was listed as an intangible cultural heritage in Xinjiang.
Since 2007, the local government began a large-scale reconstruction of the Kazanqi area by investing more than 100 million yuan to renovate and upgrade and tourism development.
For 10 years, local handicrafts have been actively developed in order to attract tourists to the city.
At present, there are some cultural and historical sites in the area, including the Shaanxi Hui Mosque inscribed on the list of protected buildings in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
The folk area of more than 300 various ancient buildings from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, nearly 20,000 residential courtyards extremely rich in regional cultural characteristics is a true open-air museum.
The important sites such as the Ili Blue Gate, the Shaanxi Dasi National Cultural Relics Preservation Unit, the Uzbek Cultural Complex and the Tudahun Bayi Complex are located here.
Many buildings in the area are painted in blue. The people here like the blue color as it symbolizes the heaven.
There are 88 home-visiting spots in Kazanqi displaying the folk culture of various ethnic groups and culinary culture experience, six-stick horse-drawn carriages, the Kazanqi Art Troupe, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience Zone, and handicraft display spots, which have directly led to the employment of more than 3,000 people.
67 years-old Ali Muhammad has been living in one of the streets of Kazanqi during 50 years. He built his house himself and is engaged now in receiving tourists at his home.
He said that about 1000 people visit his house every day and his monthly income is about 3000 US dollars per month.
He praised the efforts of the government in developing tourism and support in doing business.
According to data of Ma Liying, general manager of Ili Kazanqi Folk Tourism Development Co., Ltd., at the beginning only about 7-8 houses received tourists, now the figures increased and currently 88 families are engaged in this business and received good income.
She also added that the government supports such families and helped to start a business.
In order to showcase the multi-ethnic folk customs of Ili, the local authorities strive to preserve the original dwellings, folk customs and sentiments to the maximum extent possible, and create a coherent, diverse and original large-scale cultural tourism attraction.
Nurzhan Kasmalieva
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