Splendid Land review By Claus Mueller

Reflecting the experience of English visitors to that Chinese region interested in the arts, this production  is a superb brief but comprehensive visual presentation  of China’s  landlocked Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region in northwestern China. Bracketing the discussion of human rights issues, it focuses instead on the lifestyle, festivals, rituals, and  art forms  from music to dance,  of some of the 47 ethnic groups living among the 26 million people  of Xinjiang. 

This includes outstanding  cinematic  views of its landscapes and major towns featuring Urunqui its largest city which is the geographic center of the Eurasian continent and integrates like the city of Kashgar  modernity and  tradition and is part of the famed SilkRoad.

There are appealing perspectives of the   nomadic  life of Kasak herders which has persisted through  centuries,  startling images of the Pamir Plateau 4000 meters high  and its surrounding mountain ranges, and portraits of the modern prosperous  metropolitan city life in Xinjiang.

Most impressive visuals reflect vast deserts, the “land of fire”   China’s hottest area, and semi-agrarian landscapes.  This brief documentary conveys  that the ethnic groups presented  live freely  continuing seemingly uninterrupted their traditions and customs.

By Claus Mueller

NY Correspondent, professor at Hunter University, Accredited member of the Foreign Press Center, U.S. Department of State NY

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