Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the border area of northwest China covers about 1.66 million square km, accounting for one sixth of the Chinese territory. The GDP of Xinjiang exceeded 400 billion yuan ($58.9 billion) in 2008. The major religions in Xinjiang are Islam, Buddhism (including Tibetan Buddhism), Protestantism, Catholicism and Taoism. Shamanism still has considerable influence among some ethnic groups.
