Urumqi peaceful on riot anniversary
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Urumqi bathed in golden sunshine Monday as people began a new week of work in this thriving capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region a year after a deadly riot scarred the city.
In the morning, traffic was busy on the city's main roads as people commuted to their work. Groups of senior citizens visited parks for morning exercises - but they had to allow their bags to be inspected before they could enter.
Fewer customers could be seen Monday than usual so some vendors had time to play poker at the International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi.
"The number of guards has not increased. Everything is normal here. Usually there are fewer customers on Mondays, as we have more on weekends," said a security guard at the bazaar.
"Business is alright. But it is no match to the prosperity before the riot," said Millibal from Kashi, a city in southern Xinjiang, who was selling scarves at a stand in the bazaar.
To better run her business, Millibal learned Mandarin before she came to Urumqi. Her business had done very well before the riot.
Another vendor in the bazaar named Ye Shenghai said his business had been affected by the riot last year, especially in July, August and September.
"It may take another one or two years to recover. Some vendors are planning to leave, but I am not. I have been here for eight years. I'm confident that everything will be fine," Ye said.
People of different ethnic groups including Han, Uygur and Kirgiz enjoyed their lunches in restaurants on Yan'an Road, which was left in chaos after the riot last year.
Local residents chatted on People's Square, currently being reconstructed, which had also been damaged in the riot.
People chatted in bazaars, restaurants and other public venues. But the riot did not seem to be a popular topic. They preferred to talk about new opportunities.
After the riot in Urumqi on July 5 last year that left 197 people dead and more than 1,600 injured, China launched in May a package of favorable policies to help the region achieve lasting stability and what authorities have described as "leapfrog development."
Only the vigilance on the faces of the police officers patrolling the streets seemed to remind people of why today is no ordinary Monday.
Major topics in the newspapers focused on the people's livelihoods and the region's development.
One headline of the Xinjiang Daily and Xinjiang Economic News read: "Xinjiang improves financial subsidy standards of basic medical insurance for urban residents."
In Xinjiang University, many students studied under the trees, preparing for final exams.
Dilare, a freshwoman at the Foreign Language School of the university said she prepared to attend an English training course during the summer vacation and also planned to go to Shanghai for the Expo with her family.
"I do not feel any difference today from usual. The memories of the July 5 riot were fading and it should not be intentionally mentioned. We should look forward," she said.
