A New Journey Westward, Kalpin, Xinjiang

This year, young footballers from Xinjiang’s sand pitches claimed a national championship and went viral online. Not long ago, another group of teen players from Xinjiang's Gobi traveled 5,000 kilometers to step onto the professional pitch at Zhejiang Greentown Football Academy. They suffered a crushing 0-6 defeat in their first game, and their coach gave them a stern talk. Over eight days, they shifted from playing as individuals to learning to pass, make runs and call for the ball. To reflect on the spirit of the Long March and witness China's tremendous transformation, A New Journey Westward takes you to meet these young footballers from Kalpin, Xinjiang.