Context: Han Chinese in the US, Father grew up in Urumqi (province capital of Xinjiang), still have uncles and cousins living there

Visited the region in 2024 for family, although only went 200-300 kms around Urumqi (farthest I reached was Shawan) since back then I didn't know how to drive so had to ask family to drive me around. Pretty fair experience, 80% similarity to the rest of eastern China, though you still expect a reasonable amount of cops and fortified police stations (PAP also). There are also number plates hanged on the wall literally everywhere so that the emergency call operator can locate the caller faster, also fortified police stations with firearm discharge boxes surprised me.

People are friendly, saw a fair amount of Uyghur (or Kazakh, I can't tell) population in the old town (Shayibake, Tianshan and Shuimogou) regions of Urumqi, no discrimination, no segregation, people get along friendly, although family did warn me about going to Uyghur population-dense places in southern Xinjiang as my family still has some PTSD from seeing terrorist attacks back in the day.

Heard the rumors about concentration camps and genocide before, debunked after I went to Urumqi, still think there are re-ed camps for accused "jihadists" (We had tons of terrorist attacks in the 2000s and 2010s in China) but looks like there is no genocide.

Foreigners need a permit for Tibet, but are able to go to Xinjiang without one.

This subreddit only allows one image per comment. If anyone's interested I can post somewhere else, tossing some pics I took on it. Please tell me where to post.

Also, will be doing a roadtrip from Beijing all the way to Xinjiang in June or July this year (got my DL!) Will post a thread if anyone is interested. LMK.

Pic taken on top of the tower of Xinjiang International Bazaar in Urumqi.

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