Spring of northern country vol.2

Visiting Urumqi is the second time for me. The last time was ... Yeah, it's 12 years ago already. I photographed Kashgar, same in Xinjang. I had transferred at Seoul and got to Urumqi airport at midnight with full of anxiety.
Coz it's also my first China, Xinjang region where Muslim people live. Here must be a place where you feel cultural and ethnic diversity of China. It worked good to me that I didn't have allergy for China. If my first city was Shanghai, I could be dislike China.

I waved back to barkers of unlicensed taxi driver at airport and got start looking for a hotel. But I had no idea which way to go. I had no smartphone in those days, no hotel reservation for the late night arrival. I was so reckless.
Luckily I got an assistance in the situation. Three women who finished the work at the airport asked me if they could help me. They were sorry that they didn't speak English. But they made sense what I said and took me to a hotel which named "Airport Hotel", I clearly remember the name.
"Please don't be sorry for speaking no English. I should speak any Chinese or Uyghul" I really thanked for them.

12 years has passed after that. Has Urumqi city changed a lot. Yes, it must be although I cannot point out in exact. Most of cities in China are washed by the wave of reconstruction, so ...
However there is clear change which is seen even by me is that the more people speak foreign language. I don't need tear off any notebook page for writing communication any more.
Well, people speak English must be common in the international trend. But surprisingly I often met people who speak some Japanese not only in Urumqi but also other cities in China. The more Chinese visit Japan than before, I guess. Anyway It becomes easier traveling in China than decade ago.

Those are positive changes of Urumqi. Here is the negative aspect. It's quite tiresome hundred times of security check. A monitor camera is settled over the every narrow allay. Originally, Xinjang was the place where was heavily secured. But it gets being much tighter. Really stressful.
Increasing signboard of morality slogan is another visible change. "Family help each other. Support your parents. Respect the old" It's over lapping the trend that the government try to put a word in individual morality in Japan. I remember slogan signboards of China used be like "Work together to make a strong nation!"

What's the stickers on the porch of houses? "Civilized family" "Peaceful family" Must be an approved family in security by the government, I guess. Well, I just guess about it because nothing tells about the sticker.
In Xinjang, some ethical villages where I really interest in were closed for individual tourists. It also from security reason. As a huge Xinjang fan, I wish here is a peaceful place at any time. The people and culture is so attractive.

I awake in the bed of the designers hotel's room. A mild spring day. I'm gonna take a bus for the city. Let's see ... to The Red Mountain Park. Yeah, It must be perfect.