The Uy of Xi'an

In response to the rise of anti-muslim sentiment in the United States, I spent a week photographing Xi’an’s muslim quarter, with its labyrinthian streets, crowded markets, and thousand-year-old mosque. The Uy (Chinese Muslims) are a fascinating cultural by-product of the Silk Road that once connected Europe, the Middle East and the Far East though centuries of travel and trade. Xi'an was the Silk Road’s eastern terminus and capital of China for centuries before it was superseded by Beijing. There I found a vibrant community of hardworking merchants, people of strong faith and family values.