This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. For those who call it home, the transformation they have observed in their lifetimes has been nothing short of a miracle.

Follow the journey from single-story homes to modern high-rises, and from arduous travel to expansive networks of metros and high-speed rail. Today, Xinjiang is experiencing a meteoric rise, in both quality of life and happiness.

Click the video to hear the firsthand stories of three locals who grew up in Xinjiang.