The exodus occurred amid a climate of panic and uncertainty surrounding the Sino–Soviet split, with rumours spreading among Xinjiang's populace that, among other things, the Sino–Soviet border would soon be closed and a war would erupt between the two countries.

The exodus ended when the Chinese authorities pressured their Soviet counterparts to close the border, prompting protests in Yining, the then de facto political and economic centre of Xinjiang.

[2] During the latter half of the 19th century, the Russian Empire sought to extend its influence to Xinjiang, particularly the Ili region, to facilitate cross-border trade and create a buffer zone between Russia and China.

[3] In 1865, Oirat rebel armies of the Dungan Revolt in Xinjiang began intruding into Russian-occupied parts of the Tarbagatay Mountains, attacking locals and disrupting cross-border trade.

Adding to Russia's concerns was the rise of Yakub Beg and his regime centered around Kashgar, which threatened to expand northward into the Ili region.

[7] The Soviet Union, in continuation of its predecessor's ambitions, attempted to maintain influence in Xinjiang by backing the Soviet-friendly regime of Chinese warlord Sheng Shicai from 1934 to 1942, and the Second East Turkestan Republic (ETR) from 1944 to 1945.

However, the coalition government collapsed in 1947, and the Soviet leadership began revising their internal policy towards Xinjiang when it became more certain that the region would eventually be taken over by the Chinese communists and their People's Liberation Army (PLA).

[11] The Chinese communists' proclamation of the People's Republic of China and takeover of Xinjiang in 1949 marked the beginning of a new era of Sino–Soviet policy in the region.

[17] The Chinese government completely halted imports of what it considered "non-emergency goods", which included basic necessities like food and clothing.

Many had studied Soviet-style autonomy and pointed to the Soviet republics in Central Asia as examples of Turkic peoples being governed by their own leaders.

[19] The establishment of the Second East Turkestan Republic (ETR) in the three districts of Ili, Tacheng, and Altay in 1944 was a culmination of the desires to emulate Soviet Central Asia in Xinjiang and to form an independent state governed by the region's Turkic majority.

[20] Chinese authorities were fearful that a separatist movement in Xinjiang could serve as a tool of Soviet subversion amid worsening Sino–Soviet relations.

[22] The rapid disappearance of ethnic minorities in the local governments of Xinjiang intensified anti-Chinese and pro-Soviet sentiments among the non–Han Chinese populace.

Legal processes for migration to the Soviet Union were delayed, and applicants were removed from their schools or jobs without explanation, as a warning to others who would consider leaving Xinjiang.

Zhou consequently condemned Khrushchev and left the congress in protest, worsening and publicising the already strained relations between China and the Soviet Union.

[27] With the existing rumours "solving" the problem of legal migration and citizenship, the focus of the tall tales shifted to how one would cross the border.

[29] In early 1962, the Soviet authorities changed their border policy and began accepting the entry of "unofficial" migrants rather than deporting them back to China.

[32] Under pressure from the Chinese government, the Soviet authorities reversed their decision and sealed off their side of the border, prompting protests in Ili Prefecture.

[1] The 4th Agricultural Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (or Bingtuan), a government paramilitary organisation, was mobilised to assist local police.

To further secure the border and compensate for the loss in manpower brought about by the exodus, thousands of Bingtuan soldiers were relocated to northern Xinjiang from the region's interior.

[24] Yining lost its status as Xinjiang's de facto political and economic center, as after the protests the Chinese government moved its administrative buildings and industrial focus to Ürümqi.