While many young people in Aksu are finding jobs in textile factories, some are earning a living by helping to keep alive the traditional sound of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Uygur muqam is a unique type of music developed during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) that has 12 sets of melodic formulas and can be performed by soloists or ensembles.

Adil Abula has studied the art for a decade and regularly performs at a tourism resort in Aksu's Awati county.