Xinjiang, officially known as the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), is an autonomous region located in the northwest of China. Situated at the crossroads of Central Asia and East Asia, it serves as a significant geographical link between these regions. It borders several countries, including Afghanistan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, and Tajikistan.
As the largest province-level division in China by area, Xinjiang spans over 1.6 million square kilometers (620,000 sq mi) and is home to approximately 25 million inhabitants. The region's landscape is defined by rugged terrain, including the Karakoram, Kunlun, and Tian Shan mountain ranges, which occupy much of its borders as well as its western and southern areas. Additionally, Xinjiang was a primary route for the historic Silk Road, which traveled through the territory from east to west.