In one scene, for example, the three young protagonists witness people of several ethnic groups in Tacheng prefecture singing and dancing together in a forest of white poplars. "Their performance moves Jiang, and inspires him artistically," Li explains.

As well as the songs and dances of different ethnic groups, youthful elements of modern pop culture, like skateboarding, motocross and hip-hop are also featured in the film.

"Hip-hop symbolizes youth and vigor. We want to show the modern attitude and cultural dynamism that Xinjiang people show toward life," says Gao.

"Through the beautiful melodies and dancing, people's smiling faces and the lives shown in the film, viewers can get to know the social development of Xinjiang, and see that people from different ethnic groups live harmoniously together in the vast region," says Tian Wen, minister of the Publicity Department of Xinjiang.