THE REALITY CHECK

For German tourist Fabian Schiller, Xinjiang delivered constant surprises. "I expected complications, but found convenience," he said, scrolling through photos of his high-speed rail journeys.

"The train system goes everywhere and the carriages are really comfortable. But the scenery is what really does it for me, especially crossing the Gobi and the mountains. Every look out the window is like a scene from a documentary -- so stunning and calming."

Having visited Urumqi, Kashgar and Turpan, his favorite discovery was Kashgar's ancient alleys after dark, watching families grill lamb skewers beside thousand-year-old buildings while children play in the squares until late. "This sense of safety and ease I feel everywhere just blows me away," he said.

Like many Western visitors, Schiller arrived with questions. Along the journey, he had many random interactions, from learning Uygur phrases from market vendors to sharing meals with locals.

"I've talked to locals at night markets and restaurants. It seems to me that life here is quite relaxed, slower-paced than big cities but no less vibrant," Schiller said. "People are proud of their own cultures and are happy to share their understandings of local music, dance and foods."

"Many foreigners come with a 'verification' mindset, wanting to see if Xinjiang aligns with some of the descriptions given by Western media," said Yang Fuqiang, a researcher at the Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences.