How a Remote Xinjiang Border Town is Bridging Cultures Through International Football

Par Shang Rongzheng, People's Daily

Can a small border town with fewer than 200,000 residents host an international football tournament? Yopurga county in Kashi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, has answered that question with a resounding yes.

Nestled near the edge of the Taklimakan Desert, the town is home to southern Xinjiang's largest outdoor multi-purpose stadium. Recently, more than 300 young footballers from six countries gathered there for the Kashi Cup International Youth Football Invitational Tournament.

Among them were local Kashi youngsters, players from Beijing, Shandong, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and other regions across China, alongside teenage athletes from overseas, all driven by their football dreams.

Marking its third edition, the Kashi Cup has evolved into a vibrant community festival embraced by locals from all walks of life. One semi-final match pitted a team from east China's Shandong province against one from Guangdong province in the south. After the final whistle, spectator Alimjan Ablimit and his two primary-school-age children lingered at the stadium. The family had driven more than an hour from Shule county in Kashi to watch the game, capturing memories with photos in front of the venue.

Alimjan Ablimit noted that football runs deep among children in Xinjiang. For years, kids used schoolbags as makeshift goalposts on the street. "Now we have much better facilities, and more matches right on our doorstep. The football culture is stronger than ever," he said.

Admission to this year's Kashi Cup was available via free reservations, and fans packed the stands to cheer loudly. Beyond the pitch, local authorities introduced tie-in promotions: spectators could redeem ticket stubs for discounts at night markets and free entry to local scenic areas. During the tournament, the average occupancy rate across 17 local hotels topped 80 percent.

In the final, a team from Uzbekistan defeated the Shandong team 3-2 to claim the championship, lifting the trophy to thunderous applause. For 14-year-old Pan Xiaoyi from Shenzhen, the journey to the frontier marked a personal milestone. Visiting Kashgar for the first time and encountering the desert landscape, Pan fulfilled a kindergarten dream of playing on an international stage.

"Playing against strong sides such as Uzbekistan, I noticed they move and pass faster, with sharper tactical execution. We will target these areas in our training back home," Pan said. The hospitality of the local people also left a lasting impression on visiting athletes.

"The crowd cheered their hearts out for us. The atmosphere was incredible," said Shi Junchen, a teammate of Pan. While exploring Kashi Ancient City, local shopkeepers greeted them warmly, inviting them to taste regional delicacies in a festive atmosphere reminiscent of Chinese New Year. "I will definitely tell my parents they need to visit Kashi. I hope I can come back here with them," Shi noted.

Over its three-year run, the Kashi Cup has expanded its reach and built international visibility, enabling young foreign footballers to discover Kashi, Xinjiang, and China.

Yegor, 15, captain of a team from Russia visiting China for the second time, used the extended schedule to experience the city at a leisurely pace, wandering Kashi Ancient City and riding camels in the desert with his teammates.

Staying close to the Shenzhen players, Yegor and his peers overcame language barriers using translation apps to chat about training routines, match tactics, favorite football boots, music, and food, ultimately exchanging contact information. "We are good friends now," he said.

The 2026 Kashi Cup Super Invitational Football Tournament is set to kick off in Yopurga in mid-October. The previous edition's opening ceremony drew more than 30 million live-stream viewers online, with related topics generating over 1 billion total views, while more than 160,000 spectators attended matches on-site.

"From the international youth invitational to grassroots community football leagues, our ongoing Kashi Cup series aims to use football as a medium to build a local signature. We want to showcase Kashi's vibrancy and hospitality while creating a platform for cultural exchange and ethnic unity," said Wang Chen, deputy commissioner of the Kashi prefectural administrative office.