Kashgar, China
Region: Xinjiang
Geographic Coordinates: 39.468100, 75.993800
Temperature Range: -40.0°C to 40.0°C (-40°F to 104°F)
Climate: Dry and arid with hot summers and cold winters.
Population: 920000
Language: Uyghur
Kashgar is a city located in the westernmost part of China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Bordering Pakistan, Afghanistan, And Kyrgyzstan. It is a historically significant city that has been an important trading hub for centuries. The city lies at the foothills of the Pamir Mountains and is situated on the ancient Silk Road trade route that connected China with Central Asia and Europe. One of Kashgar’s most famous landmarks is Id Kah Mosque, Which dates back to 1442 and serves as one of the largest mosques in China.
The mosque features traditional Islamic architecture with intricate tile work and ornate minarets. Another popular attraction in Kashgar is the Old City, Which contains many historic buildings and markets that have been preserved for hundreds of years. Kashgar has a rich cultural heritage due to its location at the crossroads between different civilizations throughout history. The population consists mainly of Uyghurs who are predominantly Muslim but also includes Han Chinese, Tajiks, Kyrgyzs, Kazakhs among other ethnic groups who have lived together peacefully for centuries.
The Sunday Bazaar in Kashgar is one of its most famous markets where traders from all over Central Asia come to sell their wares including carpets, Spices, Textiles among other goods. This market has existed for over 1000 years and continues to be an important trading center today. In recent years Kashgar has undergone rapid development as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative which aims to connect Asia with Europe through infrastructure projects such as highways railways airports etc.. However this development has come at a cost as many historic buildings have been destroyed or replaced by modern structures.
Despite this rapid modernization process Kashgar remains an important cultural center with its unique blend of Central Asian Islamic culture mixed with Chinese influences making it a fascinating destination for travelers interested in exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations within China.
- Id Kah Mosque
- Abakh Khoja Tomb
- Kashgar Old Town
- Sunday Market (also known as Yekshenba Bazaar)
- Apak Hoja Mazar Mausoleum
- Kashgar Grand Bazaar
- Shipton’s Arch Natural Bridge
- Kashgar Livestock Market
- Atush Ancient City Ruins
- Karakul Lake
- Agriculture: Kashgar is known for its fertile land and favorable climate, making it suitable for agricultural activities such as cotton, wheat, fruits, vegetables, and livestock farming.
- Textile Industry: The textile industry is one of the major industries in Kashgar that produces silk fabrics, carpets, rugs, and other textiles.
- Handicrafts: The city has a rich history of producing handicrafts such as pottery and woodcarving products like furniture and decorative items.
- Tourism: Due to its unique cultural heritage sites like Id Kah Mosque & Abakh Hoja Tomb, landscape beauty (Karakul Lake), bazaars (Sunday Market), and location on the ancient Silk Road route; tourism has become an important industry in Kashgar.
- Mining: There are significant deposits of coal reserves in the region that are mined by local companies.
- Oil & Gas Industry: With recent discoveries of oil fields near Aksu 200 km from Kashgar; oil drilling operations have started to develop around Kashgar too.
- Trade: As one of the largest cities along China’s western border with Central Asia; trade with neighboring countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan etc plays an important role too.
- The Silk Road: Kashgar was an important stop on the ancient Silk Road trade route that connected China to Europe and the Middle East.
- Marco Polo: The famous Italian explorer Marco Polo visited Kashgar during his travels in Asia in the 13th century.
- Yakub Beg: Yakub Beg was a Muslim warlord who ruled over Kashgar and other parts of Xinjiang province in the mid-19th century.
- Qing Dynasty: During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), Kashgar was an important center for trade, culture, and religion in western China.
- Uyghur Culture: The Uyghur people have a rich cultural heritage that is closely tied to Kashgar and other cities in Xinjiang province.
- Great Game: In the late 19th century, Britain and Russia competed for influence over Central Asia, including Xinjiang province where Kashgar is located.
- Chinese Communist Revolution: During the Chinese Communist Revolution (1945-1949), communist forces gained control of Xinjiang province including Kashgar.
- Cultural Revolution: During Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), many historic buildings and cultural artifacts were destroyed or damaged in Kashgar as part of efforts to erase traditional culture.
- Urumqi riots: In July 2009, Urumqi riots took place which led to death of nearly 200 people.
- Id Kah Mosque: One of the largest and oldest mosques in China, dating back to the 15th century.
- Abakh Khoja Tomb: A mausoleum complex that houses the tombs of five generations of Sufi leaders, including Abakh Khoja himself.
- Kashgar Old Town: A historic district filled with traditional Uyghur architecture and bustling bazaars.
- Kashgar Sunday Market: A massive weekly market where locals come to buy and sell everything from livestock to handicrafts.
- Apak Hoja Mazar Museum: An art museum located within a 17th-century mosque that displays traditional Uyghur art and artifacts.
- Karakul Lake: A stunning alpine lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains, located about 200 km outside of Kashgar.
- Tashkurgan Fort: An ancient fortress located on the Silk Road that dates back over 2,000 years.
- Shipton’s Arch Natural Bridge: One of the largest natural arches in the world, located about a four-hour drive from Kashgar in Tashkurgan County.
- Xinjiang Regional Museum: A museum dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history and culture of Xinjiang Province, where Kashgar is located.
- Atush Karez Irrigation System Museum: A museum dedicated to demonstrating how an ancient underground irrigation system known as Karez works which was used for centuries throughout Xinjiang Province to bring water from mountain springs into desert areas for agriculture purposes.
- Kashgar Sunday Bazaar: This is a weekly market that takes place every Sunday in the Old City of Kashgar. It is one of the largest and oldest markets in Central Asia and attracts traders from all over Xinjiang.
- Eid al-Fitr: This is a Muslim festival that marks the end of Ramadan, the month-long period of fasting. In Kashgar, there are many celebrations during Eid al-Fitr, including feasting, visiting friends and family, and giving gifts.
- Uyghur Cultural Festival: This annual festival celebrates the culture and traditions of the Uyghur people who live in Xinjiang. The festival features music performances, traditional dances, food stalls selling local delicacies, and handicraft displays.
- Silk Road International Expo: This expo showcases products from countries along the ancient Silk Road trade route. It includes exhibitions on textiles, handicrafts, food products,machinery equipment,and technology.
- Grape Harvest Festival: This festival takes place in September when grapes are harvested across Xinjiang region including Kashgar city.The event features grape picking contests , grape crushing competitions as well as wine tasting sessions.
- Chinese New Year : Also known as Spring Festival,this holiday falls between late January to mid-February each year.There are many events around town such as temple fairs , fireworks displays , dragon dances etc.
- Uyghur Cuisine: This is the most popular cuisine in Kashgar and includes dishes like lamb kebabs, dumplings, plov (rice pilaf), naan bread, and laghman (hand-pulled noodles).
- Nang Bread: This is a type of flatbread that is made fresh daily and served with almost every meal in Kashgar.
- Roast Lamb: This dish is a specialty of Xinjiang Province and can be found at many restaurants throughout Kashgar.
- Chongqing Hot Pot: This spicy hot pot dish has become very popular in recent years and can be found at many restaurants around town.
- Kashi Yipin Restaurant: This restaurant serves authentic Uyghur cuisine including lamb kebabs, plov, naan bread, and more.
- Silk Road Teahouse & Restaurant: This restaurant offers a mix of Chinese and Western cuisine as well as traditional Uyghur dishes like laghman noodles.
- Shuimogou Hot Pot Restaurant: This restaurant specializes in Chongqing-style hot pot with a variety of meats, vegetables, and spices to choose from.
- Hua Guo Shan Xiang Muslim Restaurant: A halal restaurant that serves delicious Xinjiang-style food such as roast lamb skewers with cumin seasoning or stir-fried diced chicken with chili peppers
- Id Kah Square Park is a public park situated in the center of Kashgar, which boasts a large square and beautiful gardens.
- Kashgar Old Town is an ancient town that has been preserved as a cultural relic, providing visitors with an insight into traditional Uyghur life.
- Karakul Lake is a picturesque lake located approximately 200 km from Kashgar, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and offering opportunities for hiking and camping.
- Abakh Khoja Tomb is a mausoleum complex that houses the tombs of several significant figures from Uyghur history, including Abakh Khoja himself.
- Sunday Market is one of the most extensive bazaars in Central Asia, where you can find anything from spices and textiles to livestock and electronics.
- Muztagh Ata Peak is a popular destination among mountaineers due to its elevation of over 7,500 meters above sea level.
- Tashkurgan County is an isolated county situated on the border with Pakistan and Afghanistan, renowned for its breathtaking natural scenery and unique cultural heritage.
- Shipton’s Arch Natural Reserve encompasses one of the largest natural arches globally, along with several other geological formations such as caves and canyons.
