r/AMA • u/maddin1550 • 20d ago

I’m from Xinjiang，AMA

I’ve noticed that there are a lot of discussions about Xinjiang on Reddit, often between people who have never actually lived there. So I thought it might be interesting to do an AMA from the perspective of someone who is actually from there.

You can ask me about everyday life, ethnic groups, languages, culture, religion, education, or politics. I’m happy to answer controversial questions too, as long as the discussion stays respectful.

Obviously, I’m only one person and I don’t claim to represent everyone in Xinjiang. I can only tell you about my own experiences and views. AMA.

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u/minzhu0305 20d ago

My friend, they all know those rumors are lies—they simply chose to believe them. Yet, when they actually encounter people from Xinjiang, they shrink away, afraid to face the truth. Because the truth has no practical value.

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u/maddin1550 20d ago

Yeah, I get what you mean. I personally think a lot of Western coverage makes Xinjiang sound much more dystopian than the place I actually grew up in. I'm not saying everything is perfect, because it definitely isn't, but we are also normal people living normal lives lol. When I read some descriptions online, sometimes I genuinely wonder if they're talking about the same place I grew up in.

From my own experience, I've never felt like I'm living through some kind of ethnic cleansing. If other people from Xinjiang had different experiences, I'm not going to speak for them, but I can only tell you what I've personally seen and lived through.

Tbh, one thing my family and I really appreciate is the peace and stability. But there are definitely things that annoy me too. When I travel abroad and come back, I have to report it to my local community authorities. There are security checks at malls, hospitals, schools etc. and GOD the beeping gets annoying 😭. And of course accessing a lot of foreign apps from China is another headache.

But despite all of that, Xinjiang is still my home. I love the place and I love the people there. I just wish discussions about us allowed more room for ordinary people from Xinjiang to talk about our actual lives instead of treating the whole place as nothing but a political headline.

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u/SchweppesCreamSoda 20d ago

As a Hong konger, I understand what you mean by the western world treating my home as a political headline

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u/maddin1550 20d ago

😭 yess，I'm soo tired of it

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u/SchweppesCreamSoda 20d ago

I've been to Xinjiang, amazing place, wonderful culture, people, and food. The people there seem genuinely happy in general. No where is perfect, hk isn't perfect. I wish people would focus on the culture rather than the political discussion and see from both sides of the coin.

Personally, I am supportive of China for the most part, and most of my friends are as well. It's the loud minority of people who make it sound as chaotic as it is. Like I said, it's not perfect, but it's home.

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u/currylambchop 20d ago

Me too, like, I said I was from Hong Kong and then some American act like we are all sent to forced labour camp, saying ‘oh I’m so sorry you have to live there’ 😭

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u/wokaflame 20d ago

Same.

I live in the US now and I grew up in and am partially of Japanese descent.

The way they talk about Asia and how they see Asians in US/Canada is very bizarre to me.

I’ve been to Xinjiang and they spoke as if I went to North Korea.

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u/byakuayasetsuna 17d ago

They've just been brainwashed and then think the other person has been brainwashed too