The Face of July 5th: Surviving Xinjiang's Worst Terrorist Attack

CGTN's documentary "Darkness Over Urumqi" explores personal stories of survivors. It's a project of remembrance—an attempt to piece together the truth from the chaos of that fateful night and to ensure the lessons from it are not forgotten.

Survivor Gao Wenhong was thrown into the international spotlight. Her two daughters also survived the horrors of that day. Many of her relatives did not.

The Night of Horror

At approximately 20:40 on the evening of July 5th, Gao and a group of 11 family members were crossing the street in front of the People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. They were suddenly surrounded and attacked.

The attackers did not discriminate between young or old, man or woman. Gao's elderly mother-in-law, in her 70s, had her arm broken. Gao witnessed her second sister beaten so severely that one of her eyes was knocked out, and her third sister did not survive. Gao finally saw her elder daughter. The girl held her mother, touching her face to reassure her.

This scene resonated with international audiences. When Gao turned back, she saw her younger daughter being cradled by her niece. "I could only watch as my family suffered. Such desperation alone could kill you," she reflects.

The Road to Recovery

For Gao Wenhong, there was a long and painful recovery. She and her family left Urumqi for Shanghai, spending ten years there. But distance could not erase the memories. Gao returned to Urumqi, determined to rebuild her life. "I used to be afraid of being recognized, but today, I am no longer," she says, reflecting on her journey of survival and healing.

It is hoped the stories of survivors like Gao Wenhong can help prevent such tragedies by providing a springboard for discussion of the difficult truths of the past.