Every so often, we hear of groups of people that fall outside of “traditional” society. Sometimes they are expelled from that society, or sometimes they simply leave. There are many, though, who find their place and thrive. One example of this are the Uyghurs. According to Wikipedia, the Uyghurs, alternatively spelled Uighurs, Uygurs or Uigurs, are a Turkic ethnic group originating from and culturally affiliated with the general region of Central and East Asia. The Uyghurs are recognized as the titular nationality of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in Northwest China. They have had their ups and downs over the decades, with China not being quite sure what to do with them. But, they persist, are everyday people and, as you’ll see in the video below, they are just like everyone else. They work hard, they have families, they’re proud, but they’re also playful and joyous.
One of our favourite YouTube channels is Little Chinese Everywhere, run by Yan, a Geographer and Youtuber. She’s kind, open-minded, curious, sweet, funny, authentic, down-to-earth and, simply, a joy to watch. One day she realised that she didn’t know much about the Uygurs, so she decided to take her trusty scooter and take to the streets to visit markets to find out. Take your time to enjoy the video below. It is delightful, heartwarming and funny.
Wendy Wu have fabulous tours to Asia, including China. Click here to find your adventure.