Desert area and land without water where nothing grows is one o the biggest problems there. There are areas like that also in Kenya. People are much poorer there than in China (and also here in Nepal), and yet, they live their lives, are happy and sad - just like human beings as ourselves.

Indeed, people find a way. And not all of Xinjiang is poor also, they did fine for thousands of years before the "han zu" came along with their culture. Did anyone stop to ask the uighurs if they wanted ring roads, skyscrapers, pollution, and the benefits of "progress" the CCP so proud as a peacock likes to tout as their official line?