Meanwhile, Xinjiang's booming tourism market offers further opportunities for local cultural and creative businesses. In 2025, the region received a record 323 million tourist visits, with tourism spending reaching 370 billion yuan (about 55 billion U.S. dollars).

　　Developing strong brands is key to preserving and advancing traditional crafts, while creative design and new technologies can help connect them with modern life, meet consumer needs and enhance their market value, said Huang Yonglin, head of the National Research Center of Cultural Industries under the Central China Normal University.

　　For Gong, the goal is to make Xinjiang's cultural traditions more tangible and accessible. "I hope my products will attract more people to visit Xinjiang in person to experience its flavors, breathtaking landscapes and exquisite handicrafts," he said.