Exploring Kashgar: Tips and Tricks

Throughout history, Kashgar has been subject to numerous invasions and dominations by empires such as the Moon Chi, the Tang Dynasty, the Han Dynasty, the Turks, the Mongols, the warlord Timur, the Duy Ngo Nhi, and the Qing Dynasty. In the mid-19th century, Kashgar rose to prominence again as the British and Russian empires vied for influence in Central Asia during the period known as the 'Great Game.' Today, Kashgar is a thriving commercial city and an important transportation hub in western China. Despite its modernization, the city still retains its inherent allure.

The Id Kah Mosque

The Id Kah Mosque is the largest mosque in Xinjiang.

In the 15th century, Islam became the predominant religion in Xinjiang. Kashgar then became one of the largest Islamic centers in Central Asia. Nearly 200 mosques still exist in Kashgar, a testament to the long-standing presence of Islam in this region. Among them, the Id Kah Mosque is the largest mosque in Kashgar and Xinjiang, located on the central square of the city, covering an area of 16,800 square meters. Inside the prayer halls can accommodate up to 20,000 worshipers. Id Kah was built in 1442 during the rule of Kashgar's ruler, Saqsiz Mirza. The entire mosque architecture is in the Central Asian style, with the main gate adorned in yellow tiles, flanked by two minarets decorated with intricate patterns and the familiar crescent moon symbol of Islam. Inside is the prayer hall supported by over 100 columns, with a mihrab - a niche in the wall indicating the direction of Mecca for worshipers (usually men) to face and pray. Surrounding the hall is a lush green garden, providing a cool ambiance.

The Mausoleum of the Apak Khoja Family

Afāq Khoja is regarded as a sacred site of Islam in Kashgar.

Constructed since the 17th century, Afāq Khoja boasts stunning azure hues.

Afāq Khoja is the burial ground of the renowned Islamic missionary Afāq Khoja and his family. Erected since the 17th century, it is revered as a sacred site of Islam in Kashgar. Afāq Khoja stands as an iconic testament to Islamic architecture in Kashgar. Its entrance gate is adorned with cobalt blue glazed tiles, reflecting the typical gate architecture of Central Asian mosques. The central mausoleum dome has a diameter of 17 meters, stands 26 meters tall, 39 meters long, and features a pointed apex above. Surrounding it are four minaret towers. The entire exterior of the mausoleum is embellished with characteristic Islamic motifs such as floral patterns, symmetrical geometric designs, and multicolored glazed tiles. Inside this vaulted chamber are divided into multiple separate burial chambers, each adorned with brightly colored silk fabrics from China.

Adjacent to the main mausoleum stands the Friday Mosque - built in 1873 with 62 wooden columns intricately carved by 62 artisans. Each column is adorned with different motifs and colors, sometimes depicting Huihua patterns, other times soft swaying grass, and occasionally Quranic calligraphy.

The Old Town of Kashgar

The entrance gate to the house in Central Asian style

A traditional Kashgar house

The old town in Kashgar is divided into two distinct areas: one is a dilapidated old district entirely built with earth several centuries ago, perched on a desolate hillside, crumbling and on the verge of collapse. The other is the ancient quarter of the Duy Ngo Nhi people, built since the Qing Dynasty. Although some houses have been renovated or reinforced, most still retain their old architecture. Strolling through narrow alleyways, I always feel like I'm time-traveling back to the days of the ancient Silk Road, with houses made of characteristic light red mud, arched windows, corner courtyards, and verdant green domed roofs.

The Sunday Market and Livestock Market

The Sunday Bazaar

The tranquil scenery at the Sunday Market

Visiting Kashgar without experiencing the bazaar, or 'bazaar,' is simply incomplete. The Sunday Bazaar used to be a meeting place for locals, traders, and tourists along the Silk Road. In the past, the market only convened on Sundays hence its name, but nowadays, it operates daily, with Sundays being the busiest when traders bring their wares in abundance. The market sells everything from horses, camels to silk goods, household items, clothing, spices, herbs, and a plethora of delicious foods. You can purchase many gifts such as tasty dried fruits, renowned for their quality like Chinese apples, raisins, walnuts, roasted almonds, or souvenirs from the Duy Ngo Nhi people such as two-string dutars, clothing, silk, scarves...

Perhaps one of the events that has persisted since the days of the Silk Road to this day is the livestock market, with a history spanning over 2000 years. The market area is only 10km away from the city center. Just 10km, yet you'll feel transported to an ancient world. A vast expanse of land filled with herds of livestock of all kinds, from sheep, cattle, goats, horses...sometimes up to hundreds of thousands of animals crowding and lining up. The bleating, the panting, the lowing of cattle mingled with the voices of the livestock herders, the bargaining, the shouting creates a bustling, chaotic atmosphere. The makeshift tents, the determined faces of the sellers when negotiating prices, the scent of sweat mixed with the smell of livestock under the Tashkurgan sun will give you an unparalleled sense of authenticity. It's as if modern technology has not touched this livestock market, as if a thousand years ago, people were still exchanging animals like this, isn't it?

Travel Information

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Kashgar is from April to October, when the weather is pleasant, neither too hot nor too cold. August and September are when various fruits ripen in Kashgar, so if you visit during this time, you'll enjoy beautiful scenery and taste the delicious fruits of the West.

Means of Transportation

From the airport, you can take a bus to the city center for 10 CNY (equivalent to 36,000 VND) or a taxi for around 30 CNY (equivalent to 110,000 VND).

In Kashgar, there are 30 bus routes covering almost every corner of the city. The ticket price is only 1 CNY per person (equivalent to 3,600 VND). However, most drivers do not speak English, and there are no English announcements on the bus either. Therefore, if you don't speak Chinese, you should look up information about bus routes online, prepare images of the places you want to go to show the driver; if it's the correct route, the driver will nod and signal you when you arrive. Bus number 2 and number 20 will pass by most of the main attractions in Kashgar.

Accommodation

The city center, especially the old town area, is the most popular accommodation area, with many hotels, guesthouses, and homestays at various price levels. Staying in the old town will make it very convenient to reach attractions such as the Id Kah Mosque, the market...

Not all hotels are allowed to accommodate foreigners. When booking accommodation in Kashgar through websites like Booking.com, Agoda.com, Mytour, Trip.com..., you must make sure that the hotel is permitted to accommodate foreigners. If you don't speak Chinese, try to book 4 or 5-star hotels or guesthouses with English-speaking staff for convenient communication.

Some hostels in the city center are convenient for transportation and have English-speaking staff: Kashgar Old Town Youth Hostel and Kashgar Pamir Youth Hostel.

Cuisine

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Grilled lamb skewers are tender and delicious.

- Lamb stew in a pot: lamb meat is chopped into bite-sized pieces, placed in a pot filled with water, then potatoes, carrots are added to a large pot and simmered over low heat for several hours. The restaurant will serve you a smoking hot pot of lamb, with pieces of meat fragrant and tender as they melt in your mouth.

- Hoshan Fried Lamb Buns: The top crust of the bun is fried crispy, while inside is a rich, hand-chopped lamb filling mixed with spices. The bun is served with a bit of flavorful vinegar and a freshly brewed cup of hot tea.

- Stuffed Lamb Intestines: Lamb intestines and lungs are stuffed with a mixture of flour and water, similar to making sausages, then cooked until tender. The owner will cut small pieces of stuffed lamb intestines and pour broth, which is lamb bone broth, spices, and plenty of chili into the bowl.

Kashgar's Stuffed Lamb Intestines Dish

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Centennial Tea House

Note

This article is a collaboration between Mytour and blogger Trần Hồng Ngọc.
All content and images in the article are owned by Mytour. Please do not copy or use in any form without the consent of Mytour.