To evaluate the association with genetic polymorphisms in Xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group D (XPD) gene of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) risk in a population of Yili Prefecture, in Xinjiang, China. A hospital-based case-control study was designed with 571 samples including 213 ESCC patients and 358 controls with age, gender and ethnicity-matched subjects (Kazakh, Uygur and Han ethnic). Genotypes were determined by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RLFP) and confirmed by sequence. Relative risk associated with a particular genotype was estimated by calculating odds ratios (OR) along with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Significant ESCC risk was observed for XPD Lys751Gln (rs13181) frequency of presence C allele (OR: 1.409, 95% CI: 1.005-1.976) in the three ethnics. XPD Asp312Asn (rs1799793) of Han ethnic was associated with a borderline decrease of ESCC (OR: 0.362, 95% CI: 0.145-0.906), however, it was associated with ESCC risk in Uygur ethnic (OR: 2.403, 95% CI: 1.087-5.310). The results demonstrated an association between the XPD Lys751Gln (rs13181) for frequency of presence C allele and risk for ESCC in the three ethnics of Yili Prefecture, in Xinjiang, China. XPD Asp312Asn (rs1799793), which was associated with a borderline decrease of Han ethnic and risk of Uygur ethnic of ESCC, may play a different role in the three ethnics of ESCC.