When talking about Xinjiang, people may first think of popular attractions such as Tianchi Lake, Kanas, Yili Grassland, Sayram Lake, and Turpan. As the labels and business cards of Xinjiang, they only represent the majestic mountains and rivers, fertile grasslands, and vast herds of cattle and sheep in Northern Xinjiang. However, the Southern Xinjiang region south of the Tianshan Mountains is less known to the world. Kashgar, Kuqa, Hotan, and Taxkorgan are still strange names to many people, but they represent the most authentic local customs and traditions of Xinjiang.
Northern Xinjiang is famous for its scenic beauty, while southern Xinjiang excels in its cultural charm. There’s a saying among the people: You haven’t truly been to Xinjiang if you haven’t been to southern Xinjiang.
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Introduction to Southern Xinjiang
The geographical feature of Xinjiang is ‘three mountains sandwiching two basins,’ just like the right side of the character ‘jiang.’ The top horizontal stroke represents the Altai Mountains in the farthest north, the middle horizontal stroke represents the Tianshan Mountains, and the bottom horizontal stroke represents the Kunlun Mountains in the south. The two ‘tian’ characters in between represent the Junggar Basin and the Tarim Basin. Xinjiang is divided into southern Xinjiang and northern Xinjiang by the Tianshan Mountains. ‘Southern Xinjiang’ refers to the area south of the Tianshan Mountains, with representative regions including Kashgar, Taxkorgan, Kuqa, Luntai, Korla, Hotan, Aksu, Ruoqiang, and more.
Kashgar – The transportation, economic, and cultural center of southern Xinjiang!
Kashgar is the abbreviation for Kashi, meaning a place like jade. Kashgar is a city at the westernmost tip of China, overlooking the Tarim Basin to the east and leaning against the Pamir Plateau to the west. As early as over 2,100 years ago, this was the convergence of the southern and northern Silk Roads in China’s westernmost region, serving as a transportation hub and gateway for China’s economic and cultural exchanges with the West.
How many people have been attracted to Kashgar by ‘The Kite Runner,’ and how many have become fascinated by its unique lifestyle after setting foot in the city. Walking through the intricate streets of Kashgar Old Town, you’ll see artisans diligently crafting, devoting their entire lives to one craft, or you can head to a century-old teahouse for a cup of fruit tea and sit for the afternoon…
The entire southern Xinjiang region centers on the Tarim Basin, with the Tianshan Mountains and Tarim River to the north, the Kunlun Mountains and Altun Mountains to the south, the Yarkant River Basin and Pamir Plateau to the west, and the mysterious Lop Nur to the east. Here lies China’s largest desert, the Taklamakan Desert, as well as China’s largest inland river, the Tarim River. Southern Xinjiang’s unique geographical location has nurtured a distinct culture. Unlike the picturesque scenery of northern Xinjiang, southern Xinjiang’s natural landscapes are more magnificent and rugged, better representing the authentic state of Xinjiang. And southern Xinjiang’s rich exotic flavor is unmatched anywhere else.
Walking through the streets and alleys of the old town, colorful wooden doors, carved balconies, Uyghur children playing… Every snapshot taken casually can be turned into a postcard. Turning a few corners to Kazim Abishi Alley, you’ll see artisans making iron pots sitting in front of their shops, hammering away, while old carpenters wear reading glasses as they carve naan stamps… To the east, there’s also a street lined with colorful flower hats. When you’re tired of walking, you can head to the century-old teahouse on Wusitangboyi Road for a pot of fruit tea and listen to Uyghur uncles playing and singing. After dark, the night market opens, with roasted eggs, roasted buns, yogurt shaved ice… Ordinary foods eaten with a unique flavor. In Kashgar Old Town, it’s more about rediscovering life than just traveling.
Id Kah Mosque
The Gaotai Residential Area is a Uyghur settlement built on a 40-meter-high and 800-meter-long loess cliff in the northeastern part of the old city of Kashgar. With a history of 600 years, it is a major attraction in Kashgar showcasing Uyghur ancient residential architecture and folk customs.
The people of Uyghur ethnicity have lived in clusters for generations in the Gaotai Residential Area. Houses are built along the cliffs. When a new generation is born into the family, another floor is added to the ancestral house. This continues from generation to generation, with houses connected to houses and floors connected to floors, layer upon layer. Most of these houses are earth houses, but there are also many newly built brick houses. Among these casually built upstairs and outside-the-building floors, more than 50 alleys have formed, crisscrossing and winding up and down. Without a local guide, outsiders will surely get lost.
The streets and alleys in the old city of Kashgar are crisscrossed, with a flexible and changeable layout and secluded paths. Most of the residences are earth-wood and brick-wood structures, and many traditional residences have a history of over a hundred years. It is the only labyrinthine urban block with unique features in China. The residential groups in the core area of the old city are one of the largest earth building clusters in the world. The earth buildings themselves are of great historical significance and value, integrating the remnants of the Han and Tang dynasties, ancient Rome, and the modern life of the Uyghur people. Some scenes of the famous movie "The Kite Runner" were filmed here.
Axiangfei Tomb
Kashgar Cattle, Sheep, and Horse Bazaar is the largest livestock trading market in Xinjiang and also the largest cattle livestock trading market in Asia. Every Sunday, the scene of livestock trading is quite spectacular, showcasing the most down-to-earth local customs and traditions of Southern Xinjiang.
For Uyghur elders living around the Id Kah Mosque, going to the old teahouse to drink tea is a daily must. In winter, they gather around the stove, and in summer, they lay carpets in the shade outdoors. For one yuan and fifty cents, they can enjoy a pot of tea, a round naan, and chat with old friends. Of course, the teahouse is also open to guests who come to the bazaar. Outside the teahouse, several carpets are laid on the ground. Some middle-aged and elderly tea guests sit cross-legged on the carpets, eating naan and sipping tea, with leisurely expressions and free-flowing conversations.
Kashgar Grand Bazaar
Food Recommendations · Kashgar is a place where culinary delights gather. Roasted whole sheep, kebab, stewed mutton, tandoori meat, baked stuffed bun, pilaf, hand-stretched noodles, oil tower pastry, naan, fried dough twists, ququ, grilled fish, stewed vegetables, stuffed noodles and rice intestines, and other culinary delights are available, all making one’s mouth water. As the birthplace of tandoori meat, not tasting tandoori meat in Kashgar can be considered a wasted trip.
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