Xinjiang becomes the center of Asia

5 min read

Speaking of the largeness of Xinjiang, we have to mention the”Asia Center-the geographic center of the Asian continent. This is because Xinjiang is often described as located in the hinterland of Eurasia”. Yes, the geographic center of the Asian continent is located in Baojiacaozi Village of Yongfeng Town, Urumqi County at 87 1952″easternlongitude and 43 4037 northern latitude Now. it has become the world-famous “asia Center village.

The geographic center of the Asian continent is the mass center of the asian continent and american scientists have concluded that the asia center was in northern Xin jiang. In July 1992, Xin jiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, in con junction with the academicians from the Chinese academy of Sciences academicians from the eurasian Academy of Sciences, cartographers, remote sensing scientists and geographic information scientists, measured and determined the geographical location of the Asia Center-Baojiacaozi village of Yongfeng Town in southwestern Urumqi, on the basis of the asia map of Bonne projection technology, through rigorous scientific calculations, and by means of other modern technologies and equipments. The small village with just more than 30 families became the famous Asia Center Village. After several years of construction and development, the once unknown small village located in the alluvial-proluvial fan on the northern slope of Tianshan Mountains has become a place of new beautiful scenery of western landscape, attracting a constant stream of visitors out of admiration for the village.

Center Peace Square”. The tower body is 14m high made of reinforced concrete anda The landmark tower of asia Center is located in the center of the huge circle of “a veneered with black granite. Wherever you view the tower, it displays in the shape of “A which symbolizes Asia. The tower top is a ball-shaped mesh frame made of stainless stee with a diameter of 2. 5m which symbolizes the Earth. An inverted copper cone is hung under the steel ball with the cone tip pointing right to the landmark of the Asia Center of theground Right beneath the tower body is the Asia Center altar made of black marbles with a radius of 100 m. The area paved in Chinese red in the central square(namely, the tower base area) is the miniature of the Asian continent map. In the four polars of northwest, northeast southeast and southwest, there are four sets of “Asian international peace walls respectively made of 12 large granites on which the names of Asian countries are carved arrayed around the landmark tower. The Asia Center landmark tower with typical Asian regional features embodies the thoughts of”the dome-like sky and the square earth”and the unity of universe and humans.

When you stand right beneath the hanging copper cone of the Asia Center tower, you actually stand at the heart of Asia, the position with farthest distance from the oceanLooking around the Asia Center tower, with Bogda Icy Peak on the east, mountains of theTianshan Range on the south, the torrent Toutun River on the west and the Junggar Basin on the north. the feeling of vast and breadth wells up in your heart.

The asia Center Peace Square is closely encircled with erected maps and flags of 49 countries. Stone carving totems and wood. glass fiber reinforced plastics sculpture totems which concentrate the customs and features of various asian countries are gathered on both sides of the Asia Center avenue: Hunting the Lion of Iran, Condor of Ta jikistan, Boat of Kuwait, Long Live the Peace of Pakistan, The Code of Hammurabi of Iraq, and Blessing of Laos, etc, which all symbolize the spiritual pursuit of Asian nations exhibit the cultural powers of various countries and reflect the coexistence of diverse civilizations. On the north of Asia Center Peace Square, there is a grid structure gate of more than 20m highwhich is like a wings-spreading eagle, showing tourists the roaring development of Asia Here, Baojiacaozi Village, which was a village of emigration with a small population and the village folks there were also not rich, due to water scarcity and large scale saline alkali soil. But today, the former quiet, self-contained and obscure small village has been transferred and revitalized, because of the determination of the geographical center of asia and has now become the solemn and well-known Asia Center Village with many people coming for visit.

Speaking of the changes in the Asia Center Village, we have to talk about a story abou an old man who has passed away and his works of four stone lions. Wu Ningde, an elder man who ardently loved sculpture, was responsible for safeguarding the sign board of the landmark tower since the determination of the unique site of the “Asian Continent Center”in 1992. Usually he also did some environmental protecting work, such as picking up the fruit peels and wastes thrown by tourists. Later on, he gave the souvenir stones with the words of”Asia Center”carved on by himself to several hundred of domestic and foreign tourists as gifts. In 1997, Mr Wu was nearly seventy years old, and he was increasingly eager to send more souvenirs for the Asia Center which he can not keep for himself after his passing away, and he was also eager to find”someone”who can take his place to safeguard the Asia Center. Finally, he decided to carve big stone lions which mean”the Asian lion and the oriental giant”he gave the land to his sons and daughters who did not understand him and sold off the only 47 sheep of his property, and then bought more than 4 tons of building stones and sculpting tools and began to carve the stone lions devotedly. Ittook more than half a year to carve a stone lion. With the time going, when the fourth stone lion was about to be carved out the outline, the old man got cancer. After that, with the help of others, he accomplished the carving of the fourth stone lion eventually. Three days before the old man passing away he said “the lions can safeguard the treasury while the dragons stay in the blessed place. i will let the stone lions safeguard the treasures here so that our Bao jiacaozi Village can get well on and on. I will contribute the stone lions to the Asia center even if i die now i feel relieved Thus the four stone lions. each with one ton and 1. 6m high, began to safeguard in front of the sign board of the Asian Center. Things have changed as time flies the old asia Center sign board has been replaced by an imposing landmark tower of the Asia Center, but the stone lions are still safeguarding the abandoned Baojiacaozi village and witnessing the new developments of the Asia Center.