The CGTN documentary "Xinjiang Dawn to Dusk" uses the magnificent landscapes and rich cultural diversity of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region as its backdrop. Structured around the traditional Chinese concept of "shichen" – the twelve two-hour periods that divide a day – the documentary spans all four seasons and traverses thousands of kilometers across Xinjiang.

Through the lives of more than twenty individuals from diverse ethnic groups, professions, and regions, the documentary captures the vitality of daily labor in real time. Its "present-continuous" storytelling approach preserves fleeting moments, revealing the people of Xinjiang as diligent, courageous, confident, approachable, and resilient.

Each shichen is imbued with its own distinct character, collectively painting a portrait of modern Xinjiang – a land of social stability, ethnic harmony, and vibrant cultural coexistence.