Reporter's notebook: A tour of Urumqi and Ili in Xinjiang

11. A man rides a motorcycle at the Kazanqi Folk Tourism Zone in Ining city of Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture, Xinjiang, Aug 9, 2011. Instead of demolishing the dilapidated buildings in the Uygur-dominated region, local government focused on building roads and improving the infrastructure by investing 100 million yuan in 2007, trying its best to protect the original architecture and lifestyle. Today, it’s one of the must-see areas in Ili and a perfect place to understand how Uygur traditions continue to thrive with modernity. A Uygur guide said travel agencies enter into profit-sharing contracts with local residents and invite tourists to visit their homes or taste local ice creams. The zone also has a unique store to display the artworks made of sand, such as the wolf, and many rug stores.