A Shining Pearl of the Ancient Silk Road——Kashgar:

Kashgar —— a cultural and commercial hub along the ancient Silk Road, has become a necessary travel destination along the silkroad and Xinjiang travel itnerary. Located in the abdomen of Central Asia, Kashgar is a South Gate to neighboring countries like Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. For many years, Kashgar is a dreamplace for people who want to know the ancient history and silkroad culture.

Kashgar belongs to a warm continental arid climate zone with four distinct seasons. Summer is hot with abundant sunshine. Winter is not cold but comfortable for outdoor activities. From the green spring, dry summer, gorgeous autumn to stunning winter views, each season offers a panoramic natural beauty of Xinjiang.

Kashgar Highlights：

• Historical Significants

Kashgar is one of the oldest cities in China, with a history dating back over 2,000 years. It was a vital hub along the Ancient Silk Road, connecting China with Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Here, You can fully explore the well-preserved Kashgar Old Town, visit historical sites like the IdKah Mosque and the Abakh Hoja Tomb, and immerse yourself in the city's fascinating past.

• Cultural Diversity

Kashgar is home to a diverse mix of ethnic groups, with a strong Uyghur influence. Experience the unique culture, traditions, and cuisine of the Uyghur people, known for their vibrant music, dance, and craftsmanship. Explore the bustling markets, sample local delicacies like Uyghur kebabs and hand-pulled noodles, and witness traditional performances and celebrations.

• Architectural Marvels

Marvel at the distinctive architecture of Kashgar, characterized by traditional Uyghur homes, mud-brick buildings, and ornate mosques. Visit the iconic Apak Hoja Mausoleum, the picturesque Afaq Khoja Mausoleum, and the historic Kashgar Old Town, where you can wander through narrow alleyways and admire traditional courtyard houses.

• Natural Beauty

Surrounding Kashgar are breathtaking natural landscapes that offer opportunities for outdoor adventures and exploration. Visit Karakul Lake, a stunning alpine lake nestled in the Pamir Mountains, or hike through the Taxkorgan Grasslands for panoramic views of rolling hills and grazing yaks. The rugged beauty of the Xinjiang region is sure to captivate nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

• Culinary Delights

Indulge in the delicious flavors of Uyghur cuisine while in Kashgar. Sample local specialties such as polo (pilaf), laghman (hand-pulled noodles), samsa (meat pies), and Uyghur bread. Visit the bustling Grand Bazaar to taste a variety of street food, dried fruits, nuts, and spices, and savor the unique blend of Central Asian and Chinese flavors.

• Colorful Markets

Explore the lively markets of Kashgar, where you can shop for traditional handicrafts, textiles, carpets, and souvenirs. Visit the Sunday Market, one of the largest and most vibrant markets in Central Asia, where you can browse a wide array of goods, interact with local vendors, and experience the hustle and bustle of daily life in Kashgar.

Top Attractions in Kashgar

• Idkah Mosque——The Largest Mosque in Xinjiang

The main body of the Idkah Mosque is goose yellow, which looks warm and vibrant. Next to the gatehouse are two minarets in soft-curved shape with Islamic crescent moons on each tower's top.  It's the most symbolic muslim architecture building in Kashgar with Central Asia style. From the grand Iconic Gateway, tranquil Courtyard, to the Prayer Hall Architecture. Each spot provids its own beauty, Friday Congregational Prayer, Eid al-Adha Grand Congregation Prayer and the Sama Dance can be seen here in special days as well.

"Our Clients are Having Fun in Idkah Mosque"

• The ancient City of Kashgar

Ancient City of Kashgar is the most popular scenic spot in South Xinjiang for many visitors from domestic and abroad. From the puzzle of the folk street, exotic music and dance performances to the delicious kashgar loacl food——all showcases a long history and epitomizes Xinjiang culture.  According to our professional tour guide and the feedback from our clients, there are three different routes and travel tips are recommended for the first time visitors to Kashgar ancient city:

"Our Clients are exploring ancient city of Kashgar"

• Apak Hoja Mazzar

Compared with many mosque in Xinjiang, the Apak Hoja Mazzar is a wonderful and colorful building with delicate decoration. It is a magnificent palace with Islamic ancient architecture styles of domes and crescent moons on the top. Only for 95 RMB  (with performance) / 30RMB (No performance) per person, you can fully explore this grand masterpiece. These glazed bricks were made more than 300 years ago but are still beautiful and shining today. If you're decide to take some gorgeous photos in this building, Choose 6:00PM in the afternoon, it is the best time to take the golden sunshine with beautiful shadows reflected on the dome celestially, which provides a unique experience during your Xinjiang journey in Kashgar. (PS: There's no real body of Iparxan—"Xiang Fei", concubine of Emperor Qianlong in this building, only silk clothes worn during her lifetime and her family's tomb)

"Spending a happy holiday with family in the Apak Hoja Mazzar"

Grand Xinjiang Tour: Kashgar, Turpan, Kanas, Yili Kashgar - Taxkorgan - Urumqi - Turpan - Fuhai - Hemu - Kanas - Urho - Jinghe- Yining - Tekes - Naraty 16 Days (over 170+ Booked) View Details

• Sunday Bazaar

If you want to live like a local and feel the authentic Kashgar people's life, the Sunday Bazaar is the top choice for you as the first destination. Whether you want to taste Sama fresh out of the oven, looking for some delicate hats with beautiful patterns, or taking some dried fruits back to your sweet home.  Held every Sunday on the outskirts of Kashgar, You can find a wide range of goods, from livestock and produce to clothing and household items. All the products you can imagine are hidding in this wonderful bazaar!

"Looking for the goods and delicious food in the wonderful Sunday Bazaar"

Tips for you when exploring the Sunday Bazaar:

1. If you are interested in the cute animal like goat, cow, or sheep, you can see these creature anywhere in the bazaar.

2. When taking photos or touching sheeps, please ask for permission of the local owner.

3. Remeber to bring some cash before exploring the Sunday Bazaar.

• Pamir -- "Roof of the World" 

Pamir is a must-visit place when you come to Kashgar, from the snow-capped mountains, lucid lakes to the stunning glaciers, all the grand scenery you watched on the document will appear i front of you in the real life. You won't be tired in the car when passing this gorgeous alpine. It's definitely a perfect dreamplace for outdoor activities. The snow-capped peaks, deep valleys, and crystal-clear lakes creating a breathtaking backdrop for adventurers and nature enthusiasts. Besides, trekking, mountaineering, and wildlife watching are popular activities in the Pamirs, offering visitors a chance to explore this pristine and awe-inspiring region. 

"Here's a Pamir Plateau Travel Map you Might Needed"

Join Our Pamir Adventure to See the breathtaking views of Kashgar:

Recommended Tour Itinerary

• Karakul Lake --"Black Lake" 

Karakul Lake is a worthy place to visit if you come to Kashgar for the first time. The pure lake mirroring snow-caped mountains. It is located about 160km away from Aktao county, at an elevation of 3600m above sea level, and covers an area of 10km. The presence of Gongge Peak, Gongger Jiubie Peak, and Mustage Peak around the lake makes the area very picturesque, "Karakul" means "Black Lake" in Kirgiz language, it boasts the name for the varity changes of lake color with different weather, adding a touch of romance to the majestic Pamirs.

"karakul lake offers the best travel experience for you and your family"

Tips for you when exploring Karakul Lake:

1. Transportation: Self-driving or renting a car is a good choice for you, it takes about 3.5-4 hours along the G314 highway.

2. Price: The ticket price is 45RMB/per person, and the best time to visit karakul lake is the early morning (to watch the sunrise), or the late afternoon (take photos of the beautiful sunset).

3. Many activities are provided for you in this wonderful place: Horse/yak riding experience, Trekking, Camping next to the lakeside (you can watch the star trails in the pure night sky), Trying local food like Yak Meat Hotpot, Yak Milk or Nann Bread.

• Taxkorgan County 

Taxkorgan County located in the east part of Pamir Plateau, which is the must-go destination to the West Asia and South Asia in ancient silk road trading routes. There are many famous and popular scenic spots in Taxkorgan like ancient stone city, Golden Grassland, Apricot Valley, Muztagh Glacier Park, ports and border gates. Tashkurgan is known for its ancient stone fortress, cultural heritage, and stunning mountain scenery. Make fully preparation can help you catch the right season to join local festival, appreciate wild flowers, take gorgeous natural photos and trekking along the most beautiful way under the snow mountain's foot.

Tips for you when exploring Taxkorgan County:

1. Permission and Certificate:
   According to the local regulation, all the foreign visitors need to apply the Border Permit before visiting Taxkorgan County in Xinjiang (including many scenic spots like Pamir Plateau, Karakul Lake, Muztagh Peaks...). You need to apply in person offline with your passport vaild for at least 6 months, the check in letter, and the copies of visa.

2. Transportation:
   Some of the road may have a weak signal, remember download offline maps before coming to the remote area in Xinjang. Because of the high altitude, please bring oxygen bottles before start your journey.

3. Local Animal Protection:
   Some cute marmot can be seen along the highway, wetland or grassland. Keep away from these little wild creatures, protect yourself and keep the viewing distance when taking photos.

4. More activities:
   The Dancing performance will be opened at 15:00 PM every day in the Tourist Center of Taxkorgan, don't miss it! And July to August is a great time to join the local wedding ceremony, which is a perfect experience for you to feel the local folk culture.

How to Plan a South Xinjiang Trip in Kashgar:

After selecting the best time, the destinations you wanna visit, the next step is to plan your ultimate Kashgar Xinjiang tour! If your're a first time traveler, you are recommened to join us and start your south Xinjiang adventure with a cost-effective price and a smoother travel experience with Xinjiang Travel's professional local tour guide, sophisticated driver and the best routes we designed just for you: 

• This Itinerary is designed according to our clients feedback and the tour guide suggestions, help you to wander around Kashgar in 5 days with more attractions to visit.

Xinjiang Spring Tour to Kashgar and YIli Grassland Kashgar - Taxkorgan - YIning - Xinyuan - Naraty - Sayram Lake - Kuitun - Urumqi 9 Days (over 200+ Booked) View Details

Best Time & Entertainments in Kashgar:

• Best time to Kashgar:

  The Best Time to Kashgar is during August-October. At this time, the sun isn't so scorching as in summer and is also a perfect time for outdoor activities. The sweet Xinjiang fruit and comfortable breeze will smooth your journey and left a memorable experience in your Kashgar adventure.

• The Climate and Weather in Kashgar:

  The average temperature ranges from 15℃ ~ 31℃(59 ℉~ 87.9℉), you can travel there with a mild climate. As for clothing, It is recommended to wear cotton clothes, linen fabric shirts, thin long skirts, T-shirts, and other lightweight clothing in the daytime. Additionally, as for night, wearing warmer clothes such as suits, jackets, trench coats, casual wear, blazers, and thin sweaters is a good choice.

• Entertainments & Activities in Kashgar:

  I.C.H. Pyrography Experience

  The wooden pyrography experience has a romantic name in Chinese—"Fire Embroidery". In kashgar, you can easily get your own pyrography masterpiece with only 30 RMB in Kashgar Ancient City. Which is a fantastic trying when you wander in this old town. You can design the pyrography with your picture, the chatacter you like, or the patterns you prefered.

  
  

  Handmade Carpet Experience

  Buying or making a pure wool carpet in Kashgar is a great choice when you are traveling in this ancient city! The magnificent and complicated patterns with Xinjiang style is the best gift to bring back as a memorized present for your family and friends. These beautiful handmade carpet can be sent to your country in 20 days as well.

  
  

  Xinjiang Loacl Medicine Tea

  In the anicent city of Kashgar, the local medicine tea is the most popular choice for many local people. The Kashgar Medicine Tea is based with natural medicinal plants, with a light fragrance and fresh taste, many ingredients can be find here, from rose, jujube,  cinamon, Lycium chinensis, Amomum kravanh to cumin, all these tea could have various of flavor, which is good for your skin, heart and cerebral vessels.

  
  

  Horseback & Camel Ridding Experience

  In Xinjiang, the horses and camles plays an important role in the local people's daily life, you can ride a horse or take photos with camels in the ancient city of Kashgar with a cost-effective price. The horses and camels are selected before riding, you can dressing like locals and having fun in this beautiful ancient town.

  
  

"Our clients are riding camles in desert and having fun"

• Kashgar Ancient City Singing & Dancing Performance

  If you want to feel the most authentic atmosphere in Kashgar, Xinjiang. A grand performance in the ancient city of kashgar is your best choice. Every morning at 10:30 AM, the opening ceremony performance of Kashgar old city will be open in the east door which is worth to have a look.