The Silk Road of Pop

On the distant northwest edge of China lies Xinjiang, a vast region of snow-capped mountains, barren deserts and historic market cities. Here, along the ancient Silk Road, music is one of the hottest commodities: it is vibrant, infectious, and far- reaching, permeating every corner of the province. Yet, around the music lies a troubling reality. Engaged in an identity tug-of-war, the region’s main population – the Uyghur Muslims – are gradually watching their populations dwindle as they are engulfed by a predominant Han Chinese settlement. One of the very few documentaries to come out of Xinjiang, The Silk Road of Pop captures the challenges of a minority group in China and the explosive music scene which results.