Cultural preservation also is taking place in Kuche county, northwestern China, with help from Ningbo city, on China’s east coast. The two areas may be far apart, but they share a cultural bond.

Kuche county, in the Xinjiang autonomous region, is where the ancient Qiuci kingdom once held sway. It also is located on a branch of the ancient Silk Road. Under a government initiative for provinces and cities to assist Xinjiang, the city of Ningbo has been contributing to the preservation and development of culture in Kuche. Fifteen cultural palaces have sprung up across the county.

Artists perform folk music and dance known as Muqam. Local cadres say this cultural palace provided a space for locals to perform and enjoy art. Ningbo also financed the translation of hit dramas produced in Ningbo to the local Uygur language, to be broadcast locally soon.