His younger brother, Xiakeer, born in 2000, also found his way back to Tashikurgan after studying in Xiamen, a coastal city more than 4,000 km away in Fujian province. "Things are changing fast here," he said. "We used to travel 300 km to Kashgar for many essentials. Now, most of what we need is available right here in the county."

Indeed, infrastructure and tourism have reshaped this remote corner of Xinjiang. In 2022, the Tashikurgan Khunjerab Airport opened, becoming the region's first high-plateau airport. Visitors now flock here to witness the stunning Pamir landscapes and experience Tajik culture firsthand.

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