The Shifting Sands of Xinjiang

The Shifting Sands of Xinjiang
Q. Sakamaki / Redux

Internal Migration
Many Han Chinese workers, like these at Urumqi's central railway station, have been moving to Xinjiang to join China's effort to "modernize" the remote western province. The word xinjiang in Mandarin means "new frontier."

Get the Latest Photos from Time.com
Get TIME photos and pictures of the week delivered directly to your inbox.