Ghulja, a Divided City

�(Ghulja Xeheri ikkige Bolindi)

by Sokrat Saydahmat

Ghulja city is divided into two parts, a Chinese business and residential area and an old Uighur town.

In the new developed area, I noticed the construction and businesses are booming, new residential and commercial buildings are being constructed at a fast speed, and the roads are clean and wide. The most automobiles, government buildings, modern shopping centers and stores, international trade centers, and colleges are settled on this side of the city.

In the old Uighur section of the city the shops are old and the residential homes are hundred years old and in bad shape. People are struggling for life without a decent income, job, or education. One day I was trapped at the family house after a rainy day because the streets were muddy and I couldn't find a taxi so I could at least get out of the neighborhood without getting splattered by mud. The only transportation that could be found was a "hadik", which is a horse carrage. The last time I had visited this neighborhood was in the year 1987 and when I returned this summer 2005, after nearly 18 years, I saw that little changes have been made. The streets still get filled to the knees with mud after a rain shower and the conditions of the Uighur people are the same. However it was to my surprise that the Chinse section of the city has expanded and advanced into a clean, organized, modern and very populated area with many Chinese people.

Ghulja city's Chinese Section (Ghulja xeherning Hitaylar jaylaxqan qismi)

Streets are named after chinese cities, or reflect chinese culture.
(Hemme kochining isimliri Hitayce)

A restaurant on the first floor, residentials on upper levels.
(Yengidin selinghan oyler, astin qewiti bir axhana)

Ili Oblast bus transportation station and advertisements.
(Ili Oblastning abtobus binasi we reklamilar)

PetroChina's gas station in the city.
(Xeherdiki Petro Chinaning may qachilax ponkiti) .

A neighborhood street.
(Hitaylar rayoni) .

Old Uighur section of the city (Bichare Uyghurlar olturaqlaxqan rayoni)

Muddy street
(Patqaq kocha)

Uighur shops
(Patqaq kochidiki dukan)

Uighur shops on a corner.
(Dohmuxdiki bir dukan)

"Hadik", a horse carrage, a transportation in Uighur section.
(Hadik harwa)

Young Uighur boys selling coals on the street.
(Kome sitiwatqan balilar)

Children were picking up metal sheets from a construction site for recycle sell.
(Balilar qeley kolap pul qilip satmaqchi)

A house in the dengerous condition.
(Orulux aldida turghan oy)

A small stream running through the neighborhood filled with garbage.
(Mehelidiki eriq ehletke toxqan)

A bread shop on the street.
(Nawayhana)

Selling melons on a donkey cart in the neighborhood.
(Ixek arwida tawuz sitiwatqan bir korunux)

Kids live and grow up in this neighborhood.
(Muxu balilar muxundaq bir xaraitta chong bolidu)