山東教師招聘考試-英語閱讀賞析四

http://shandong.hteacher.net 2023-06-02 13:20 山東教師招聘 [您的教師考試網(wǎng)]

When Mardan Ablimit opened a coffee shop in the Old Town of Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, in 2018, many people warned him that his venture was unrealistic and bound to fail.

Now, the 34-year-old is considering opening branches outside the region and exporting a taste of Kashgar nationwide after the coffee shop successfully integrated with the Old Town and became part of local people’s lives.

Mardan said the 4-square-kilometer Old Town, which has a history of more than 2,000 years, is “the birthmark of Kashgar” in southern Xinjiang. The traditional Uygur architecture and culture are well-preserved around the neighborhood and by its 43,000-plus residents, 97 percent of whom are members of the Uygur ethnic group.

“The Old Town has been a window into Kashgar ever since the city was an important stop on the ancient Silk Road. It has never stopped embracing new things and ideas.” said Mardan as he sat in Kashgar Corner, his coffee shop.

“By having a cup of Kashgar Corner Special, made with coffee and traditional Uygur herbs and presented in a mug handmade by Uygur pottery craftsmen in the Old Town, I hope visitors will see both the traditional and modern sides of Kashgar.”

In the past, the area’s people and fragile old buildings were threatened by the risk of fire. In 2010, the central government started a 7 billion yuan ($1 billion), four-year renovation project to render the buildings earthquake-proof while maintaining their traditional Uygur charm.

Nearly 50,000 families had their dilapidated old houses renovated under the project. Modern infrastructure and amenities have made people’s lives easier and cozier. What’s more, many young Uygurs, such as Mardan, have recognized the potential of the Old Town and discovered a passion for it.

The process of opening the coffee shop helped Mardan reconnect with the city where he was born and raised, he said.

After graduating from a university in Xi’an, capital of Shanxi province, he chose a career as a film producer there because he didn’t believe Kashgar could offer a platform for him to realize his dreams.

“I did not believe that Kashgar, China’s westernmost city, could ever be as open as other cities in the country,” he said.

He returned to Kashgar in 2010 at the request of his parents, who wanted him to take care of them, and started making documentaries about Kashgar prefecture for the local TV station.