In southern Xinjiang, people often say Hetian is where you go to feel the soul of the land. For CGTN's Yang Xinmeng, that "soul" was not abstract. It revealed itself in textures woven into daily life.

From silk that shimmers like it's alive, to carpets patiently tied knot by knot, to the music and laughter of the old town, Hetian weaves beauty, warmth and belonging into one. Yang shares how the heartbeat of this city is carried quietly in its craft and community.