When you wear clothes made from cotton, do you know where the cotton comes from? Countries along the Indus River like India are believed to have grown cotton for the first time, bu China is the world's largest cotton producer now.
China produces about 22% of the world's cotton, of which 87. 3%comes from Xinjiang, according to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics. Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region（新疆维吾尔自治区）in the northwest of China is home to the nation's largest cotton-producing area.
The planting of cotton in Xinjiang dates back to the late Western Han Dynasty（朝代）. According to historical records, cotton was introduced from West Asia to Xinjiang. It soon spread across Xinjiang because of the region's full sunlight and plenty of water, which the plant needs.
Xinjiang is famous for its long staple cotton（长绒棉）, which is popular among customers. In the past, people mainly picked the cotton by hand, but now machines have gradually replaced it. In Xinjiang, nearly 70% of cotton is grown mechanically. The use of machines prevents the cotton from being polluted and improves its quality （质量）.
After bags of cotton are packed and transported to many factories, they become clothes, shoes, dolls, toys and many other things we see in our daily life. Therefore, theversatility of cotton has earned it a nickname —"white gold".
