How do Kazakh pastoralists in Xinjiang live and travel seasonally?

Traditionally, Kazakh pastoralists in the Xinjiang autonomous region of China practiced a nomadic lifestyle, moving cyclically within established territories to secure pasturage for their livestock, which include horses, sheep, goats, cattle, and camels.12

While many Kazakhs have transitioned to a more sedentary life as farmers, some groups continue to engage in seasonal migration. This mobility often follows the principles of transhumance, where herds are moved between mountain pastures during warmer seasons and lower altitudes during the rest of the year.123

When traveling and settling in these destination areas, these pastoralists traditionally utilize yurts—portable, dome-shaped dwellings constructed from dismountable wooden frames covered with felt. Although forced settlement policies were historically implemented by the government, some seasonal mobility has been restored in regions like the Tien Shan, where farming practices have been adapted to accommodate this variable land use.1425