Kashgar Ancient City is located in the center of Kashgar City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, stretching south to Renmin Road, north to Seman Road and Yawage Road, west to Yumulakexiehaier Road, and east to the Tuman River Scenic Belt. The scenic area is rated as a national 5A-level tourist scenic area. It is one of the largest existing raw soil building complexes in the world and the only remaining traditional historical block with typical ancient Western Regions characteristics in China. The scenic area covers an area of 8.36 square kilometers, consisting of 28 districts, and has a population of 221,000 residents.
Historical Culture
The earliest original record of Kashgar Ancient City dates back more than 2,100 years ago, recorded by Zhang Qian, and it was then called "Shule City". At the end of the Qin Dynasty and the beginning of the Han Dynasty, Kashgar was part of the states such as Shule among the thirty-six states in the Western Regions. In 138 BC and 119 BC, the Western Han Dynasty sent Zhang Qian on two missions to the Western Regions, establishing communication between Kashgar and the Central Plains. In 60 BC, the Han Dynasty established the Western Regions Protectorate in Xinjiang, and Kashgar, as part of the Western Regions, was officially incorporated into the territory of the motherland. In the Ming Dynasty, Kashgar was one of the four major Muslim cities in the Western Regions. Before the sea routes were opened in the 15th century, Kashgar, as a transportation hub of the "Silk Road", had always been an international commercial port where Chinese and foreign merchants gathered. Since the Qing Dynasty established a Viceroy in Kashgar in 1760, Kashgar has become the political, economic, cultural, and transportation center south of the Tianshan Mountains. In 1986, Kashgar was named by the State Council as the only national-level historical and cultural city in Xinjiang.
Main Attractions
Id Kah Mosque
Founded in 1442, it is the largest mosque in Xinjiang, with a length of 140 meters from north to south and a width of 120 meters from east to west, covering a total area of 16,800 square meters. It has a typical Muslim architectural style. The main gate is built with yellow bricks and jointed with white gypsum. On both sides of the gate are brick columns semi-embedded in the wall, and the small turret on the top can be used by believers to climb up for prayer, looking solemn and magnificent. The courtyard of the mosque is a garden architecture with Muslim characteristics, divided into seven parts: the "Main Hall", the "Outer Hall", the "Quran School", the "Courtyard", the "Gongbaizi", the "Minaret", and the "Main Gate".
Tomb of Xiangfei
Located in Haohan Village, 5 kilometers east of Kashgar City, the entire cemetery is a group of exquisitely and grandly constructed ancient buildings, covering an area of about 72 mu. It is composed of several major parts, including the Quran School, the High and Low Prayer Mosques, the Gatehouse, the Main Tomb Chamber, and the Orchard. It is the most magnificent cemetery in Xinjiang and the largest dome-style building in the whole of Xinjiang.
Pantuo City
Also known as Aisikesha City, it is located on the high ground on the west side of Duolaitebage Road in the southeast of Kashgar City, Xinjiang. The ruins cover an area of 58,835 square meters, with earthen city walls about 5-9 meters thick, and only more than 10 meters of the remaining walls are left. In the Western Han Dynasty, Pantuo City was the capital of the Shule State. In 73 AD, when Ban Chao served as the Protector General of the Western Regions, the Protectorate was set up here. It is a key cultural relic protection unit in the autonomous region.
The Garden of "Kutadgu Bilig"
Also known as the Tomb of Yusuf Khass Hajib, it is located at No. 54 Tiyu Road, Kashgar City, covering an area of 12,000 square meters. With a unique and magnificent layout and simple and solemn decoration, it is a building complex with the characteristics of traditional Uyghur architectural art.
Sanxian Cave
It is the earliest existing Buddhist cave from the Eastern Han Dynasty in China.
Ruins of Mo'er Temple
Located about 33 kilometers northeast of Kashgar City, it is a large-scale Buddhist temple ruins composed of relics such as pagodas, Buddha halls, and monk rooms. In 2001, it was listed as the fifth batch of national key cultural relic protection units.
Delicacies
Roasted Mutton Skewers
Fresh mutton is selected, cut into small pieces and skewered on iron sticks, roasted over charcoal fire, and sprinkled with seasonings such as cumin and chili powder. The outer skin is golden and crispy, and the inside is tender and juicy, with an overflowing aroma.
Roasted Buns
Using flour, mutton, onions, etc. as the main raw materials, the filling is wrapped in the dough to form a bun shape and then roasted in a naan pit. The outer skin is crispy, and the filling is fragrant. When you take a bite, the aroma of mutton and onions mixes together, making it unforgettable.
Hand-Pulled Rice (Pilaf)
It is made by stewing rice, mutton, carrots, raisins, and other ingredients together. The rice grains are distinct, absorbing the broth of the mutton and becoming oily and delicious. Paired with tender mutton and sweet carrots and raisins, it has a rich taste and is nutritious and delicious.
Mutton Stew in a Casserole
Mutton pieces are put into an enamel casserole, added with side dishes such as carrots, onions, and potatoes, and an appropriate amount of water, and then slowly stewed over fire. The meat is tender, the soup is fresh and delicious, and it is rich in nutrition. It is one of the local characteristic delicacies.
Admission Tickets
The Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area is free of charge. However, some attractions within the scenic area, such as the Id Kah Mosque and Maimaiti's Old House, require separate tickets. The adult ticket for the Id Kah Mosque is 29 yuan, and the tickets for the elderly and students are 15 yuan. The adult ticket for Maimaiti's Old House (including a photo) is 29 yuan.
You can search for the official WeChat public account of the scenic area, "喀什古城景区官方", to get the latest updates.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open from 00:00 to 24:00 every day. There are two city-opening ceremonies every day, held at 10:30 and 18:00 respectively.
You can get the latest updates on the official WeChat public account of the scenic area.
Itinerary for Visiting
Eastern Area: East Gate of the Ancient City → Hanging Garden → Iron Industry Commune → Maimaiti's Old House → Kashgar Ancient City Herbal Tea House → Impression Street → Geng Gong Temple → Kashgar Spring Festival Gala Branch Venue → Hanbazaar.
Western Area: Centenary Old Tea House → Bagqi Homestay Alley → Oil Painting Street → Aidilaisi Intangible Cultural Heritage Hall → Rainbow Alley & Cloth Bag Alley → Grandfather's Grandfather's Father's Naan → Antique Street → Nuerbeixi Food Street → Thousand Gates and Ten Thousand Windows Street.
Transportation
- By Plane: Kashgar Airport is 10 km away from the city center. You can take a taxi at the airport to the scenic area. The starting price of a taxi in Kashgar urban area is 8 yuan.
- By Bus: There are multiple bus routes in the city that can reach the vicinity of Kashgar Ancient City. You can obtain specific route information by querying local bus information.
Must-visit Attractions
- Id Kah Mosque: The largest mosque in Xinjiang, with a unique architectural style and a strong religious and cultural atmosphere, it is an important place to experience Muslim culture.
- Old Street of Kashgar Ancient City: Full of rich ethnic customs, there are various characteristic shops and traditional handicraft shops on both sides of the street. You can buy souvenirs with local characteristics and also admire the exquisite Uyghur architecture.
- Gaotai Folk Houses: Demonstrating the folk customs of the Uyghur people, the houses are built along the cliffs, layer upon layer, in a scattered and orderly manner. Here, you can have an in-depth understanding of the Uyghur people's way of life and traditional culture.
Suggestions for Visiting
- It is recommended to spend 2-3 days visiting to fully appreciate the charm of the ancient city.
- In the morning, you can participate in the city-opening ceremony to feel the lively atmosphere of the ancient city; in the evening, you can go to the Hanbazaar Night Market to taste various delicacies.
- When visiting, pay attention to observing the floor tiles under your feet. Remember the saying "Four-cornered tiles lead to a dead end; six-cornered tiles lead to all directions" to avoid getting lost.
- You can choose to take a local rickshaw, which allows you to enjoy the scenery and save physical strength at the same time.
Notes
- There is a two-hour time difference between Xinjiang time and the time in the inland areas. 10:00 in the morning in Xinjiang is equivalent to 8:00 in the morning in the inland areas, and it gets dark at 11:00 in the evening. Arrange your visiting time reasonably.
- The temperature difference between day and night in Kashgar urban area is large, and the sunshine time is long. Prepare sunscreen products such as sunscreen lotion, sunglasses, and hats, and also carry a long-sleeved coat to prevent catching a cold in the morning and evening.
- Respect the local religious beliefs and customs. When entering religious places such as mosques, pay attention to dressing appropriately and keep quiet.