In her latest vlog from Urumqi, CGTN’s Yang Xinmeng meets some of China’s finest horses and riders – among them a 5-year-old girl who began riding at just 18 months old.

From the majestic Akhal-Teke horses, once revered by emperors, to the laughter of children learning to ride, Yang captures a more personal side of Xinjiang: one filled with freedom on horseback and stories that go far beyond the labels often attached to this region.