On this recent journey, Meng again attended a local wedding in Tashikurgan. "The same sense of wonder was still there," he says.

Leading the tour was He, who was on his first visit to Xinjiang. "All the 'stereotypes' I had about Xinjiang — the incredible food, scenery and the warmth of its people — were fully realized on this trip," He says. "Snow-capped mountains, deserts, the Gobi, glaciers, grasslands — I saw them all.

"At first, I expected beautiful landscapes," He shares. "But once we arrived, we gained a deeper understanding of the local ethnic cultures: their clothing, cuisine, architecture and interior designs. The beauty in these details left me speechless."

For He, Xinjiang people conveyed a profound love for life, from the intricate designs on doorways to the smallest details on the buttons of their traditional clothing.

Usually reserved, He found himself swept up in the region's vibrant gatherings, moved by the locals' singing, dancing and hospitality. "I don't know how to dance," he admits, "but the atmosphere brought pure, simple joy. I just had to join in!"

During a flag-raising ceremony at the Khunjerab border port, He and the other guests were visibly moved. "We stood at the border, waving to the people of Pakistan across from us. Both sides greeted each other warmly. I was brought to tears. At that moment, without a shared language and different cultures, we felt a profound, shared humanity."