As Xinjiang's eastern gateway and a key Silk Road oasis, Hami retains traces of Zuo Zongtang, an imperial commissioner who oversaw frontier military affairs. He led troops to expel invaders and reclaim lands around the Tianshan Mountains. In 1880, he set up his headquarters in Hami to prepare for the recovery of Ili. His soldiers reclaimed farmland, built irrigation works and planted willows along the way. These ancient willows still line the Hami River today, and local cultural sites pass down the story of safeguarding the borderland. Photos: Cui Meng/Global Times