"As long as the people need a convenient road, our motherland can make mountains step aside, and rivers bow their heads. Carving through the Tianshan Mountains is incredibly arduous, but on the other side live our people." These heartfelt words propelled Dilinur Tursunjan, a tour guide from Xinjiang, to viral internet fame, capturing hearts across the country with her sincerity and devotion.
Dilinur Tursunjan (Photo: China Daily)
Born into an ordinary farming family in Artux, Xinjiang, Dilinur rarely traveled far from home as a child. Yet, this outgoing and sociable young woman long dreamed of seeing the wider world, eager to explore new cities and landscapes. Just as deeply, she wanted outsiders to visit her hometown to savor its rich cuisine, vibrant music and dance, and breathtaking scenery.
Following high school, she took her first step toward that dream by moving to Urumqi to major in Tourism Management at the Xinjiang University of Finance and Economics. Upon graduation, she turned her passion into reality. Today, as a professional tour guide, she welcomes visitors from across China and around the globe, sharing Xinjiang's stories and serving as a living bridge between her homeland and the world.
Dilinur expresses profound gratitude for the national infrastructure that has opened up her world. Previously, traveling from Artux to Urumqi meant driving over 1,300 kilometers—a journey that took more than ten hours even by train. Today, she is awe-struck by the engineering marvels redefining her home region, particularly the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, which allows travelers to pierce through the massive mountain range in just 20 minutes.
The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel has brought transformative change to residents. As the world's longest expressway tunnel, it was carved deep within the Tianshan Mountains at an average elevation of 4,000 meters. Builders had to contend with extreme cold, oxygen deprivation, and treacherous geological hazards including collapses, rock bursts, and sudden water inrushes. Despite these immense challenges, engineers completed the project in just 52 months using cutting-edge technology.
The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel (Photo: Xinhua)
When the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel opened to traffic at the end of 2025, making the G0711 Urumqi–Yuli Expressway fully operational, Dilinur immediately began drafting a new commentary script. She revised it repeatedly, determined to ensure that every traveler passing through would fully appreciate the human grit and significance behind the engineering marvel.
Her dedication fosters deep personal connections. In October 2025, the Lin family from Taiwan toured Xinjiang with Dilinur as their guide, traveling from Urumqi to northern scenic gems like Kanas and Sayram Lake. Mesmerized by the landscape, they reluctantly departed, promising to return to explore southern Xinjiang and visit Dilinur's family. This past March, they kept that promise. Dilinur's mother welcomed them with a feast of local delicacies, including hand-pulled noodles and lamb, saying, "Thank you for loving Xinjiang and supporting my daughter."
Embracing Dilinur like her own, Mrs. Lin brought along therapeutic heat packs to help soothe the young guide's chronic neck and back pain. What was meant to be a six-day holiday stretched into an eight-day holiday. Though separated by a vast geographic distance, the two families have become closely bonded by genuine friendship.
"Going viral has given me a bigger stage, allowing me to share Xinjiang's people and stories with a much wider audience," Dilinur reflects. "But it also brings a greater sense of responsibility. I won't let people down. Today, I represent not just myself, but my homeland. That means making every tour and every conversation even better, and showing the world a Xinjiang that is real, united, and beautiful."