A free-and-easy trip to Kashgar City is an exploration journey full of exotic charm. Here is a detailed free-and-easy travel guide to Kashgar City:
I. Itinerary Planning
A free-and-easy trip to Kashgar City can generally be arranged for 4-5 days. Here is the recommended itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Kashgar and visit Kashgar Old City. You can explore the labyrinthine old city and feel the rich ethnic flavor. The buildings here are colorful, and wandering through the streets and alleys of the old city feels like traveling back to the Western Regions of the Middle Ages.
. Meanwhile, don’t miss the opening ceremony and elevated residential area in the eastern district, as well as the Id Kah Mosque and Century-Old Tea House in the western district.
Day 2: Depart from Kashgar, visit Baisha Lake, Karakul Lake, and Mount Mushtag, and then proceed to Taxkorgan County for accommodation. Baisha Lake is a perfect combination of sand and lake, with the lake water appearing creamy under sunlight, and the surrounding white sand is as fine as powder, contrasting beautifully with the distant snow-capped mountains.
. Mount Mushtag is known as the ‘Father of Glaciers’, towering and snow-capped all year round.
Day 3: Visit Stone City and Golden Grass Beach in Taxkorgan County, then proceed to the盘龙古道 (Panlong Ancient Road) to experience the thrilling mountain road, and finally return to Taxkorgan County for accommodation. The盘龙古道 (Panlong Ancient Road) winds like a huge dragon and is a paradise for photographers.
Day 4: Depart from Taxkorgan County, visit Tahman Township and Mushtag Attraction Glacier Park, and then return to Kashgar. You can choose to visit other scenic spots in Kashgar, such as Xiangfei Garden and Craftsmen Street.
(Optional) Day 5: Free activities in Kashgar City, where you can stroll around the Grand Bazaar, taste local cuisine, or visit theCattle and Sheep Bazaar to experience the most authentic local customs.
II. Transportation Recommendations
Airplane: You can fly to Kashgar Airport first, with many domestic cities having direct flights, making it a quick option to reach Kashgar.
Self-Drive: If you have plenty of time and want to freely enjoy the scenery along the way, self-driving is a great choice. However, southern Xinjiang is vast and the distances are far, so it is necessary to plan ahead and ensure that the vehicle is in good condition.
Chartered Tour: A hassle-free way, where the driver is usually familiar with the local road conditions and can also serve as a tour guide, stopping to take photos anytime on the road.
III. Accommodation Suggestions
It is recommended to stay within or near Kashgar Old City, where transportation is convenient and you can stroll around right outside. Food, night markets, and tea houses are all nearby. There are many choices for homestays in the old city, and you can choose a homestay or youth hostel according to your needs. For those with higher accommodation requirements, you can choose chain budget hotels around the old city.
IV. Food Recommendations
The cuisine in Kashgar is rich and diverse, with local specialty drinks and dried fruits such as melon beverages and dried plums worth trying. Additionally, Kashgar’s night market is also a great place to taste local food, such as grilled mutton kebabs, hand-grabbed rice, naan, and more.
During your free-and-easy travel in Kashgar City, you can also arrange other activities according to your personal interests and schedule, such as visiting Kashgar Museum, Knight Grand View Garden, and other scenic spots, or experiencing local folk musician performances and camel bell groom recruitment performances.
. I hope this guide can help you better plan your free-and-easy travel itinerary in Kashgar City.