The Chinese government had a policy of settling Han immigrants in new lands not occupied by Uyghurs or in new towns adjacent to older Uyghur communities. 

 Since the early 1980s there have been further huge increases in Han immigration into Northern Xinjiang. These are no longer forced but economic migrants encouraged by relaxed controls on population movement and improved communications linking Hi and Chuguchak with Urumchi and beyond. Many Uyghur economic refugees have also moved into Northern Xinjiang from the impoverished south.