Full coverage: Xinjiang: Exploring China’s New Frontier

Today marks the 61st anniversary of the founding of  Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Starting today, CCTV News will present a special series, "Xinjiang: Exploring China’s New Frontier". There’ve been many images projected of China’s far western region. We are trying to provide a true picture of Xinjiang, not THE true picture. We’ll take you to the heartland of the region, to bring you stories of ordinary people, against the backdrop of China’s overall development.

Xinjiang is the biggest ethnic autonomous region, covering about one-sixth of China's land mass. It's divided into the Dzungarian Basin in the north and the Tarim Basin in the south by the Tianshan Mountain range. This region has 47 ethnic groups, with Uyghurs accounting for nearly half the total population.

In our first episode, our reporter Han Bin visits a village in northern Xinjiang’s Yili Prefecture. He discovered how modernization has brought dramatic changes to this once isolated village, and created new conflicts among the different groups of people.

A pastoral life, at the foot of the Tian Shan Mountains.

Qiongkushitai is known for its idyllic beauty.

Some 300 Kazakh families live in this village.

86 year-old Aby Johmubay has been roaming the grasslands ever since he was born.

“This place used to be very quiet, with few people living a nomadic life. Now, we’ve seen a lot of people coming from outside. Animal husbandry has been restricted with the government’s grazing ban,” Aby Johmubay said.

Ehye Bahyar, is Aby’s grandson.

He’s one of the eight children from the village who've been admitted to university.

Ehye also loves the grasslands, but he doesn’t want the life of his grandfather.

Qiongkushitai’s “peaceful” existence came to an end five years ago, when it was listed as a “State Historical and Cultural Village.”

Roads have been built, connecting to even the most remote homes.

The local government promotes tourism to upgrade the living conditions.

The growing number of visitors has forced lifestyle changes.

And many welcome this.

Ehye is hoping Qiongkushitai will open, much more.

“I have seen more and more young people busy doing farm house tourism. I don’t want to just stay at home. I want to earn some money, and to lower my living costs and pay the tuition fees. This will help family life as well,” Ehye Bahyar said.

Domestic tourism is booming in China, demanding new destinations like Qiongkushitai.

Xinjiang’s unique natural scenery is a tremendous draw for tourists. The local government hopes the industry can boost the economy. But many herdsmen worry about the effect on their tranquil lifestyle.

The Kazakhs are known for “living on horseback”. This tradition is gradually fading as more young people leave the village for the big cities.

Ehye still helps the family with the animals, but he knows the nomadic life won’t get him rich, and tourism can.

Finding forage is increasingly difficult, as herders have to travel farther.

The government has issued new regulations to restrict herding to protect the grasslands for eco-tourism.

“No, I don’t want to stay in the mountain areas forever. I want to realize my dreams, and I really want to make a change to the traditional lifestyle. I can’t raise livestock on the grasslands all my life. I have my own dreams and grandpa has his dreams. I would love to go to the big cities to watch, to open my mind and eyes. What I don’t really like about tourism is -- I wish the tourists who come to my village wouldn't casually throw rubbish away, and damage our natural environment,” Ehye Bahyar said.

Qiongkushitai is changing.

The centuries-old way of life of their ancestors is disappearing.

“I really don’t know whether the nomadic life can still continue in the future. The fact is, with growing tourism, the grazing environment is getting worse. The grazing areas have been further reduced. These changes have made the traditional lifestyle difficult,” Aby Johmubay said.

Aby says modern conveniences are not the measure of his happiness.

He feels as though he's sitting at the edge of the ancient world, in an increasingly urban Xinjiang.

He says it’s really comfortable in the old village.

And he intends to savor it as long as it lasts.