In 2000, when Michael Marsden first arrived in Kashgar, he was amazed to discover an ancient Silk Road oasis that had served as a melting pot for different religions and cultures from the West and the East.

He never expected that he would eventually settle down, meet his future wife, have two children and start a business in the city in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

The 39-year-old Briton, who is preparing for the opening of his organic baby food factory in October, said Xinjiang's rich agricultural resources and the fact that he and his wife had become so used to living in Kashgar made them decide to stay.