The Uyghurs are the largest ethnic minority group in Xinjiang, with a population of over 8 million. The majority of them live in established communities along the ancient Silk Road routes to the south of the Tianshan mountain range, such as Kashgar, Hotan, Aksu and Turpan. The Uyghur ancestors can be traced back to the third century AD. The translation of the name "Uyghur" in ancient Chinese historic records is quite different in different historic periods. There are at least five translations, such as Wuhu, Yuanhe, Weihe, Huihe, Uygurs, etc. IN 1935, the term "Uyghur" was authorized and continues to be used today.

Uyghurs are Muslim by faith, and have their own spoken and written language. Traditional Uyghur men usually wear a long gown known as "qapan", with a tilted front and waistband but no buttons. Uyghur women like wearing broad-sleeved piece dresses. The Uyghur people, both old and young, men and women, also like to wear the four- or five-angled embroidered hat known as "dopa".

These two Uyghur kids were photographed at the ancient Uyghur village of Tuyugou near Turpan. They were attired in contemporary clothes, but the village they lived in was anything but modern, with a history of over 1000 years.