Travel Guide to Southern Xinjiang: The Ancient Western Regions City of Kashgar
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456
It’s said that not visiting Kashgar is equivalent to not visiting Xinjiang. During the Western Han Dynasty, Zhang Qian was sent on a mission to the Western Regions to ally with the Dayuezhi people along the Hexi Corridor to attack the Huns, and he also opened up the passage between the thirty-six states of the Western Regions and the Central Plains, one of which was Kashgar, anciently known as ‘Shule’. More than two thousand years later, the prosperity of this ancient Silk Road town continues, and the old town still retains the characteristics and customs of the ancient Western Regions city-states.
Century-Old Teahouse
The century-old teahouse in Kashgar is probably a more famous place than the mosque, with tourists coming in a continuous stream. It is also a filming location for “The Kite Runner”. When you come here, you must go sit on the large balcony on the second floor. The green walls, exquisite doors and windows are perfect for photos. However, we arrived a little late and missed the empty scene. Besides tourists, the teahouse is filled with “Baiyi Lords” wearing small flower caps; they are regulars at the teahouse. They usually buy a naan downstairs and then enter the teahouse to order a pot of tea, sitting at a table and chatting with a few friends.
Gaotai Residences
The Gaotai Residences, with a history of over 600 years, are built on a cliff that is 40 meters high and 800 meters long. They are a unique architectural group in Xinjiang where Uyghur residents have lived for generations. As family populations gradually increased, each generation of residents would expand or add onto the existing houses without any planning, making use of the terrain and space as best they could. This has resulted in a maze-like network of streets and alleys in this area.
Of course, many houses are also built with raw soil and wood, and due to disrepair over the years, they have become dangerous buildings. The government began demolishing and renovating this area several years ago, and the Gaotai Residences are no longer open for visits.
.
Casually walking into a Uyghur restaurant and opening the menu, mutton is undoubtedly the star. Whether it’s kebabs, soup rice, laghman noodles, pilaf, baked stuffed buns… Kashgar has preserved the traditional Uyghur way of life. The diet of local Uyghurs is not different from that of their ancestors thousands of years ago.
Central and West Asia International Bazaar
White Sand Mountain and Quicksand River
About 150 kilometers west of Kashgar city, heading towards the Pamir Plateau, after a series of turns and climbs out of the Gez Valley, you will suddenly find yourself in an open space and can see the “Quicksand River in Journey to the West”.
It is hard to imagine that such a mirror-like lake of 44 square kilometers exists on the Pamir Plateau.
On the north shore, White Sand Mountain is clearly visible in the distance. Since it is formed from accumulated sand, the small hills are continuous and have a soft appearance, contrasting beautifully with the vast lake surface. The lake surface reflects the blue sky and white clouds, leaving people with endless reveries and imaginations. There are colorful stones at the bottom and shores of the lake, and you can pick some nice ones to take home as souvenirs.
Muztagh Ata Snowy Peak
The Kyrgyz people call it “Muztagh Ata”, where “Muz” means ice, “Tagh” means mountain, and “Ata” means father. Starting from Kashgar and traveling along the China-Pakistan Highway, you can catch a glimpse of the “Father of Ice Mountains”. From afar, Karakul Lake looks like a mirror, reflecting Muztagh Ata’s snowy peak, as if a match made in heaven. At the 200KM mark, exit the China-Pakistan Highway and enter the mountains to arrive at the foot of Muztagh Ata. You can get close to the glaciers without any mountaineering equipment. If you are in good physical condition, climbing to the top of the glacier will allow you to overlook the Subashi Grassland and other snow-capped mountains stretching far into the distance. The blue sky and snowy peaks are nothing short of breathtaking.
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456