Nang culture park contributes to poverty reduction in Xinjiang

Abdu shows a nang in the workshop. (Photo/Xinhua)

A cultural industrial park for Nang (Uyghur baked flatbread) opened in northwestern China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region last year, lifting over 400 people from southern Xinjiang out of poverty.

22-year-old Abdu Salam is from Yengisar, a southwestern county in Xinjiang. He now works for a factory in the park, earning a salary of 3,000 yuan per month. In addition to earning money at the factory, he is also given the option to learn Chinese for free.

“I used to get up at 7 o’clock every morning to light the fire. I couldn't leave the stove in case the temperature dropped. My face and clothes all turned black because of the smoke," said Abdu.

Abdu explained that he never imagined he would work in a clean factory that produces nang. He plans to save money to buy a house in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang, and get married there.

Adbu and his colleagues make between 6,000 and 7,000 nang each day. The local government helps to sell their products to supermarkets and grocery stores in Urumqi, as well as further afield via the internet.