KASHGAR, Xinjiang -- On a sunny morning in October, streets in the Ancient City of Kashgar come alive as the city's daily gate-opening ceremony unfolds.

Performers dressed in armor, reminiscent of Zhang Qian, a Han Dynasty envoy whose journey began around 138 B.C., bring visitors back to 2,000 years ago.

The well-preserved city appears untouched by time. However, the ancient city, part of Kashgar's old town, was a dilapidated and dusty zone only decades ago.

A local proverb reflected the hardships of that time, "Sewage dried in the air, trash swept by the breeze, pipes hung on the wall, and to use the toilet, you'd risk a fall."

Renaud Andre Roger Yves Lambert, Asia editor for Le Monde Diplomatique, gazed at a photo of the old town before its renovation and asked, "Was there an earthquake here?"

What stands today is the result of China's unwavering commitment to protecting ancient heritage and ensuring the well-being of its people.