CHINA WESTERN refers to Xinjiang, the westernmost chinese province. It borders with Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikstan, Kirgizstan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. Autoctonous uighurs are musmlim, have turkish origins, and claim independence for what they call East Turkestan from the chinese, whom they consider an occupying colonial power. Xinjiang is very rich in oil and gas, and it's the chinese natural way towards Caspian oil reservoirs. China is tightening commercial and political ties with several countries in Central Asia in order to open new commercial land routes to the Caucasus and, eventually, Europe. All the photos were shot in December 2006, 2007 and 2008.
