Dream of learning a new language and culture? Meet Luke, a Brit in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 🇬🇧✨. For many abroad, Uygur might sound like a "banned" secret code. But Luke’s story shows otherwise: the language is alive on the streets of Urumqi.
One night in his favorite Uygur bar, the singer Sanubar Tursun belts out a classic, and suddenly Luke hears, “Siz qayerdin kelgansiz?” (“Where are you from?”). He replies in Uygur—clumsily but loud enough 😊—and the crowd bursts into cheers. A stranger buys him a drink, and just like that, barriers melt away.
Luke first arrived in 2021 and fell in love with the place. After finishing his PhD thesis in AI at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, he moved here in January 2025. Now he teaches A-level statistics and IELTS at an international school, helping students write personal statements for universities in Canada, the UK and Australia. “Aren’t Uygur people supposed to be unable to go abroad?” people ask. Luke smiles: “Obviously not!”
To dive deeper, he took Uygur classes: a one-on-one lesson each week and a group class with 15 learners. Sure, 250 yuan an hour is a bit steep 💸, but worth every penny. Reading can be tricky—he leans on Latin transliteration—but speaking flows easier. His students even gifted him an old “Elipba” book, teaching him letters, simple words and everyday greetings like “Essalamu aleykum” 🤗.
So, is Uygur banned? Far from it. In Xinjiang, the language finds you everywhere—from bar karaoke nights to classroom chats. Luke’s adventure proves that diving into a new culture starts with learning its words. Ready to say “Hello” in Uygur?
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
