Yamalike Mountain Shantytowns: Daily Life And Ethnic Relations

The Yamalik area is located in the transport hub of Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. This area is considered as a shantytown in the city. It was formed in1960s, was recognized as a "vag village" in the beginning. Nowadays, the Yamalik area has developed into an ethnically mixed floating population settlement. Most of the building here are Illegal constructions, the whole area lack of planning, lack of infrastructure. Dirty environment, residents of low-income floating population, residents of other districts in the city tend to be at arm’s length, is a typical urban underprivileged neighborhoods.In2009, the "7·5" event shock the world. Floating populations was considered as the main participants of violent attack, and also the main victims in this event. However, the Yamalik shantytown, which is located in the downtown of the city, and multi-national flow of mixed population, almost did not have any violent conflict during the event. This area had became a "light disaster are" during the "7·5" event. It also makes Yamalik shantytown for a time of concern for people.This article based on the fieldworks in Yamalik shanty town, describes the few household’s daily life, showing the living conditions of the residents of the community and interaction patterns. In another hand, this article also discusses about the local basic level government organizations and the presence of the government in this underprivileged neighborhoods. In addition, this area has been included in the renovation project of shantytowns, demolition work is also underway. This article also recorded this community disappear before the last change, and the consequent implications.By analysis, we draw some conclusions:different from the general imagine about the social organization and order in shantytown or slums, there has a powerful government management system in Yamalik area; Residents of different ethnic groups in this community can live in harmony, not just because there is a strong government, but also because of the residents here are urban marginalized groups, no complaints and resentment between each other at all, there are more mutual sympathy and care; In addition, the renovation project of shantytowns that aimed at changing the dirty and messy situation of this area, breed the sense of injustice among the Han and Uighur residents, also to some extent explained here used as a model of harmonious ethnic relations inherent causes.