Yusup Emet Kerim is a restaurant owner living in Chengdu by way of Yingisar, Xinjiang. To help him with the business, his wife gave up good-paying jobs back home. He says his sense of fulfillment comes from working hard and seeing the empty plates left by customers. Now, he wants to encourage young people from his hometown to go out and explore the world.

This is one of many stories in CGTN's exclusive documentary "Beyond the Mountains: Life in Xinjiang." Watch the full documentary here.