To understand the impact of these efforts, here's a "one-day challenge": As a tourist in Aksu Prefecture, how many times could you encounter such assistance?

Gift of tap water 

You wake up in a homestay in Baicheng County, and turn on the tap to wash your face. This simple, everyday act was once a luxury. Haireguli, a resident, told Xinjiang Today that in the past, people had to fetch water in buckets from wells for their daily needs. Between 2010 and now, Wenzhou, a city in Zhejiang Province in east China, spent 110 million yuan ($15 million) so that potable water connections could be extended to cover 62 percent of Baicheng's rural population. The water is stringently filtered and disinfected, so that it is safe to use.

Gift of culture 

The Qiuci Alley is a popular tourist destination in Kuche (Kuqa) City. However, in the past this historical lane was rutted and dirty, with poor sanitation. But Zhejiang's port city Ningbo, which is paired with Kuche, helped renovate the alley, transforming it into an integrated cultural and tourism center.

Today, visitors wander through the alley, admiring the scene while local children chase each other and play games. Generations of families continue to live and thrive here.

The power of a juice bottle 

While exploring the Qiuci Alley and gorging on the delicious food—lamb skewers and naan—visitors should try out the local fruit and vegetable juices as well. The bottles have an intriguing label: "Made from local soilless cultivation."

These juices are from a soilless farming facility, established with support from Ningbo. Located in Yongkutongxin Village in Kuche, this facility produces premium leafy greens and fruits with "zero pesticides, zero heavy metals and zero hormones."

Boost for logistics 

When visitors are leaving Aksu for Beijing, if their luggage, stuffed with local specialties, is over their airline's weight limit, there is an economical way out. The SF Express courier service is available. Use the SF app and enter your address and the delivery will take just 36 hours. The cost would be about one 10th of what the airline would charge for excess luggage!

Logistics was long a bottleneck for e-commerce in Xinjiang. But change came in 2023. With the support of Zhejiang's Jinhua City, the South Xinjiang Express Logistics Distribution Center was established in Aksu. Since then, express delivery in the region has been growing. Last year, it increased by 54 percent year on year.