Looking at China along the border, beautiful Xinjiang shows its splendor – Residents of border towns have stable happiness

On the morning of October 10, the bustling activity of the Turgert Port began to stir as the area woke from its quiet slumber. Just under a kilometer away in a residential community, Tu Hong Mamatihan started her day with the familiar routine of brewing milk tea, tidying up her home, and getting ready. After handling her household tasks, she stepped out to her own noodle shop.

“The apartment is spacious and bright, with all the amenities—water, electricity, heating. I run the noodle shop, and my husband is a border patrol officer. Ever since we moved here, we’ve been very busy every day,” Tu Hong shared, a smile spreading across her face as she reflected on her life now.

Tu Hong lives in a community called “Happiness Community,” located at the relocation site in Topyai Township of Wuqia County. In May 2017, she and 135 other impoverished families moved from areas over 3,000 meters above sea level with harsh living conditions to a place where they can experience a life filled with opportunities—housing, shops, monthly income, and annual savings.

As I entered the Happiness Community, ten yellow-walled, blue-roofed residential buildings stood out vividly against the blue sky. In front of the buildings, there were numerous businesses including barbecue shops, noodle shops, barbershops, fruit stalls, specialty stores, a supermarket, and a restaurant serving braised chicken. The wide asphalt roads on either side saw a continuous flow of vehicles. “The buildings have four floors total; the first floor is designated for commercial spaces, and the upper levels are residential. The community is fully equipped with utilities like water, electricity, roads, and natural gas, along with a service center, cultural activity room, clinic, and a kindergarten,” explained Li Jian, the Party secretary of the Happiness Community.

Relocated herders benefit from over 80 square meters of housing and an interest-free loan of 50,000 yuan for a shop. Li Jian mentioned that some families operate their shops, while others rent them out or work in them. Currently, there are 17 families running their own businesses and 119 families renting commercial spaces, each generating at least 10,000 yuan in annual rent.

Tu Hong operates her noodle shop using skills she learned while living in the village of Halateke. “Back then, I would make just small batches of dough for wontons and dumplings, and it would take me three days to sell a bag of flour,” she reminisced. After moving to the Happiness Community, she leveraged her experience and turned her passion into a thriving noodle shop. Today, she employs machines for both mixing and cutting the noodles, offering over ten varieties, including fresh and dried noodles.

Her shop consists of two sections—one with a noodle press, a cutting machine, and several bags of flour, while the other serves as a small grocery store stocked with snacks and household items. The freezer showcases prepped noodles alongside homemade yogurt and milk skins. “I sell about two bags of noodles daily, and with the grocery sales, I earn around five to six thousand yuan each month,” Tu Hong revealed.

Moreover, given its proximity to the “Century-old Port” of Turgert, many relocated herders have found work as security guards or loaders at the port, enjoying substantial earnings as well. “Living in a building with a job and a good environment is such a contrast to our previous life in the pastures,” said Lazar Harui, a resident of the Happiness Community. He explained that he has rented out his shop for 15,000 yuan annually while working as a loader at the port, earning over 5,000 yuan a month. Additionally, he entrusted his nine cows and 25 sheep to others for management, while his wife also found work at the port. “Now that we’re here, there are plenty of opportunities to earn, as long as you’re willing to work hard,” Lazar commented.

“Currently, a total of 276 relocated herders have achieved employment through opening their own shops, renting commercial spaces, or working locally, ensuring they have access to job opportunities, entrepreneurial pathways, and secure income, leading to a stable and happy life,” concluded Li Jian.