Starting today, our special five-part series, "Raymond's Xinjiang Stories", takes you inside one of China's most dynamic regions. 

First stop: cotton. Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is China's cotton heartland, producing more than 90 percent of the nation's crop. But beyond sheer volume, smart technology is transforming every stage of the supply chain. CGTN correspondent Ray Addison went to see how cotton is being reimagined – from field to factory.