>Putting Xinjiang on your itinerary would likely result in your visa being refused anyway
1. get a multiple entry visa
2. say you're going to shanghai or whatever on the application
3. go to Xinjiang on your second visit
1. get a multiple entry visa
2. say you're going to shanghai or whatever on the application
3. go to Xinjiang on your second visit
That doesn't mean there's no reason to ever visit, just that there aren't very many more reasons than for e.g. visiting the neighboring Kazakhstan. Most people crossing the border and getting subjected to the surveillance are probably ethnic Kazakhs living on either side, visiting relatives on the other.