Xinjiang Dawn to Dusk | Youshi: The unspoken pact with nature

In Akqi County, part of Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, generations have passed down the art of falconry, respecting the majestic creatures as both family and equals. Kurmax Kutman is a recognized inheritor of this tradition, and he is now sharing the craft of the Kirgiz people with his Gen Z grandson, Tiemuerbek Jumaturdi.

"In the sixth year of training, we must return the falcons to the wild. No matter how hard it is to let go, we have to release them," Tiemuerbek says. This echoes a promise honored between falconers and the sky for generations.

In Shaya County of Aksu Prefecture, cotton picker Aizizi Rexiti grew up by the fields. Although mechanized harvesting is now the norm, cotton still embodies a deep bond between communities and the land.

Be it falconry or farming, the people of Xinjiang continue to walk their path alongside nature, taking only what is needed and sustaining the endless cycle of life.