China Media Group (CMG) showcased Kazakh life and Kuqa crafts in a new travel documentary
China Media Group (CMG) showcased Kazakh life and Kuqa crafts in a new travel documentary. Travel is not just a change of scenery but a chance to glimpse into a people's soul, understand their way of life and touch centuries‑old traditions. As the camera follows the hosts across the vast landscapes of Xinjiang, the viewer becomes not merely an observer but a participant in discovery. Building a yurt, copper engraving, the aroma of fresh naan — every detail tells a story that cannot be found in textbooks. This film is not just documentary but a living dialogue of cultures, where ancient customs meet modernity.
In one episode of a five‑part travel documentary recently produced by China Media Group (CMG), two hosts visited a Kazakh ethnic settlement along the Duku Highway and the ancient city of Kuqa in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China, where they experienced local traditions, including yurt‑building and copperware craftsmanship. The 561‑km Duku Highway connects Dushanzi in northern Xinjiang with Kuqa in the south, passing through diverse landscapes including canyons, forests, lakes and grasslands. Along this scenic route, one host stopped at a Kazakh settlement, where he built a yurt with local residents and tasted local dishes. Meanwhile, the other host, accompanied by a local guide, travelled to Kuqa, where he visited local artisans to learn handcrafted copperware making and tried naan — a type of leavened flatbread that is a staple food for Xinjiang's ethnic groups.
The Duku Highway, also known as the Duku Road, is one of China's most scenic routes, attracting thousands of tourists every year. It was completed in 1983 and has since become a symbol of regional infrastructure development. The Kazakh settlement and the ancient city of Kuqa hold rich cultural heritage: Kuqa was an important centre on the Silk Road, famous for its Buddhist caves and crafts. As CCTV+ reports. The film is part of a series dedicated to China's cultural diversity and has already sparked interest among viewers eager to learn more about the lives of Xinjiang's peoples.
