Xinjiang: Kashgar, Nov 2024

By Beatrice Wong
December 29, 2024
7:30 pm
No Comments

We leave behind the dreamlike Tarim River Basin with its golden desert poplars and head to the city of Kashgar (喀什), one of the oldest continuoulsy inhabited cities in the world. There is a popular saying that “if you have not been to Kashgar, then you haven’t really been to Xinjiang”. Kashgar, in southwest Xinjiang, is China’s westernmost border city. With a history of more than 2,000 years, Kashgar was an important commercial port along the ancient Silk Road and was once the capital of the ancient Shule Kingdom. It is said to be the only fully preserved labyrinth-like urban city in China. The streets and lanes here are winding and criss-crossed with rows of shops selling copperware, snacks, and a variety of local handicrafts. However, the old city here underwent extensive restoration in 2017 where many ancient mud brick houses were demolished. Despite its lack of history, it is still charming to get lost in this old city.

Kashgar Xi’an Hotel 喀什古城希岸酒店

For panoramic views of the eastern part of the ancient city of Kashgar, head up to the 10th floor of Lishen Hotel and keep going left until you reach the end of the corridor. The hotel also has rooms with this view.

View of the eastern part of the ancient city of Kashgar from Lishen Hotel

Not far from Lishen Hotel is Gaotai Dwellings 高台民居, in the northeastern part of Kashgar old city. It is the only place left where you can still see the earthen houses where the Uyghurs have lived for generations. The houses, built on the cliffs, are connected to each other and stacked on top of each other. It is like a huge maze with alleys on upper floors as well as on street level. Gaotai Dwellings reminded me of the ruins of the old town of AlUla.

Gaotai Dwellings 高台民居

Gaotai Dwellings 高台民居

Gaotai Dwellings 高台民居

Diagonally across the road is the main gate to the Ancient City of Kashgar. There are performances every morning when they officially open the gates.

Kashgar

Crowds, including Ms Panda, waiting for the performances to start at 10:30am at the gate to the ancient city of Kashgar.

Rainbow Staircase, Kashgar

This spot at the top of the rainbow staircase is a favorite place to photograph Kunlun TV Tower 昆仑塔

Kashgar

Kunlun TV Tower, Kashgar

Kashgar

Kashgar

Kashgar

Kashgar

Kashgar

Kashgar

Kashgar

Oil Painting Street, Kashgar

Rainbow Alley 彩虹巷 on the left, and Budai Lane 布袋巷 on the right covered with ethnic-style cloth bags.

Kashgar

Kashgar

Old Town Corner Cafe 老城角落咖啡馆

、

Old Town Corner Cafe 老城角落咖啡馆

Id Kah Mosque is one of the largest mosques in China in the center of the old city of Kashgar. First built in 1442, the yellow mosque is a courtyard style temple like most Central Asian mosques.

Kashgar

Kashgar

Kashgar

Kashgar

Kashgar

Kashgar

Kashgar

Kashgar

Kashgar

Kashgar

The famous Grandpa’s Grandpa’s Father’s Naan Shop 爷爷的爷爷的爸爸的馕

Kashgar

Kashgar

Kashgar

The beautiful Nurkang Palace Kashgar Restaurant 努而康美泉宮喀什店

The beautiful Nurkang Palace Kashgar Restaurant 努而康美泉宮喀什店

The beautiful Nurkang Palace Kashgar Restaurant 努而康美泉宮喀什店

Kashgar People’s Square is located in the city center and is the only square in Xinjiang with the statue of Chairman Mao in the center.

About 3km from the city is the Afaq Khoja Mausoleum. Created in typical Islamic style in 1640, it is said to be the resting place of the legendary “Fragrant Concubine”, although the traditional Uyghur tale of her rebellion against the Qing imperial family is omitted in the tomb’s accompanying introduction.