For the cotton farmers in Bachu, Xinjiang, the soil is as precious as life itself. In recent years, under China's policy to "vitalize the countryside," cotton farming has experienced an upgrade. Many of the laborious processes involved in growing and picking cotton are now done by machines. Farmers say the industry has become much more efficient in producing high-quality cotton.

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