Tradition continues amid new age of convenience

Living in the south of Yumin county, Tacheng prefecture, Xinjiang, Habudelashen stopped taking his wife Baht Turlksi to other pastures several years ago. The winter pasture in the majestic Barluk Mountains is about 130 kilometers from the county, which is an important grazing place for some 110,000 head of livestock in Yumin county from October to March.

In recent years, the local government has allocated funds to build a road to the pasture, cutting the journey time to the county seat to just two hours. This has made it easier for herders to visit each other and buy daily necessities in the towns.

Baht opened a small shop and it has expanded from a single shelf to a 40-square-meter store selling beer, beverages and daily necessities.