Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area

Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area
Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area
Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area
Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area
Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area
Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area
Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area
Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area
Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area
Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area
Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area
Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area
Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area
Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area
Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area

Location Map

Map of Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area

Ticket Price

Ticket Information

The old town is open for free, but internal attractions require separate fees.

Opening Hours

Opening Hours

Open all day

Recommended Duration

Duration of Visit

Visiting the Old City of Kashgar requires 3-4 hours.

Best Time to Visit

Best Season

May to September is the best time to visit the Pamir Plateau.

Official Phone

Scenic Area Phone

0998-2831196

Transportation

Transportation Guide

Public Transportation

  1. Take Bus 13 to Minmao Station, then walk 424 meters to arrive.
  2. Take Sightseeing Line 1 to Etigar Station, then walk 676 meters to arrive.
  3. Take Bus 20 to Dongmen Guzar Station, then walk 1.1 kilometers to arrive.

Classical Route

Travel Guide

Kashgar Old City is roughly centered around the Id Kah Mosque, forming an irregularly shaped urban area approximately 2 kilometers in both length and width. The old city is filled with numerous alleys and lanes, perfect for leisurely strolls, sightseeing, and photography, which can be completed in about half a day. The recommended route is to first visit the Id Kah Mosque, then head east along Qiasa Road until reaching the Gaotai Residential Area and the Kashgar East Bazaar on the eastern side to conclude the tour. Additionally, many tourists choose to stay within the old city for several days to slowly savor its historical charm.

Exploring Kashgar Old City is about appreciating its distinctive architecture and streets. Most of the current buildings in the old city have been renovated, making them relatively new and well-preserved, yet the renovations have retained rich local characteristics. Here, you can see colorful earthen and brick walls, as well as decorative features like arches and vibrant doors and windows, which are exceptionally beautiful and perfect for photography along the way. Moreover, if you wish to experience more original and distinctive architectural styles, you can also visit the Gaotai Residential Area by the river on the eastern side of the old city.

In addition to admiring the architecture, the many unique shops along the old city streets are also a major attraction for tourists. Almost every street in the old city has its own theme, each named after a bazaar ("bazaar" means market in Uyghur). These include the Kantuman Bazaar (Blacksmith Street), Dopa Bazaar (Floral Hat Street), Flowerpot Bazaar, Handicraft Bazaar, Pottery Bazaar, and more, each with its own distinct features to observe along the way. The streets are also dotted with charming teahouses and stalls selling local snacks like grapes, naan bread, and goat milk ice cream, making it a delightful experience to eat and explore while wandering.

Furthermore, some residential homes in the area are open for visits. Typically, such homes have signs at their entrances, and visitors can explore the interiors of typical local residences, though they are usually expected to purchase some goods from the household. On the streets of the old city, you can also see elderly men leisurely basking in the sun and children playing, creating a strong sense of everyday life.

While exploring the old city, there are several important attractions to note. For example, the Id Kah Mosque in the old city is one of the larger mosques in the country. Its architecture is magnificent, and the five daily prayer sessions are particularly grand, offering a glimpse into the rich religious atmosphere. The Gaotai Residential Area on the eastern side of the old city is a preserved ancient neighborhood, featuring unique elements like earthen houses and cross-street buildings. Across the river to the east, the Kashgar East Bazaar (also known as the Kashgar Central and West Asia International Trade Market) is a famous shopping destination in Kashgar, offering a wide variety of Xinjiang specialties and handicrafts, such as dried fruits, silk products, essential oils, and Yingjisha knives.

Important Notes

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Important Child Sites

Kashgar Old City

Kashgar Old City is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Xinjiang, renowned for its unique Islamic culture and labyrinthine urban streets. Located in the center of Kashgar, the old city covers an area of approximately 3.6 square kilometers and is one of the largest surviving earthen architectural complexes in the world. Its streets and alleys crisscross in a flexible and varied layout, with most residential buildings constructed from wood, earth, and brick. Many traditional houses are over a hundred years old.

Main Attractions

Id Kah Mosque

This is the largest mosque in Xinjiang, originally built in 1442. It covers a total area of 16,800 square meters and consists of seven parts: the main hall, outer hall, scripture-teaching hall, courtyard, gongbaizi (a type of Islamic architectural structure), minaret, and main gate.

Gaotai Residential Area

This is part of Kashgar Old City, showcasing the traditional architectural style and lifestyle of the Uyghur people.

Jiulong Spring

Located within the old city, this is an important historical site and cultural attraction.

Pantuo City

Also known as Ban Chao City, it is situated in the southeastern suburbs of Kashgar and was an important node on the ancient Silk Road.

Laining City

Another significant attraction within the old city, it showcases the history and culture of the ancient city.

Fule Wisdom Park

This is a place that displays the culture and wisdom of the Uyghur people.

Russian Consulate in Kashgar and British Consulate in Kashgar

These historical buildings reflect the old city’s historical role as a hub for East-West communication.

Additionally, there are many free entrances and exits within the old city, allowing visitors to explore freely and experience local life and culture. Kashgar Old City is not only a major landscape showcasing ancient Uyghur residential architecture and folk customs but is also known as "the last Western Region, a living fossil."

Official Website

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Brief History

Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area in Kashgar Prefecture

I. Introduction

Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area in Kashgar Prefecture, abbreviated as Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area, is a tourist attraction located in Kashgar City, Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The scenic area covers 3.6 square kilometers, bounded by Renmin Road to the south, Seman Road and Yawag Road to the north, Youmulakexiehaier Road to the west, and the Tuman River sightseeing belt to the east. Having endured over 2,000 years of wind, frost, snow, and rain, Kashgar Ancient City has become a specimen and slice of different historical periods. It is hailed as a living fossil for studying ancient Western Regions cities and is also a historical and cultural city of the highest value, influence, and representativeness for researching the culture of the ancient Silk Road. The ancient city is an open tourist attraction and a residential area for Uygur people, collectively showcasing Uygur family life, ethnic customs, traditional handicrafts, and local cuisine.

II. Orientation and Layout

Location and Territory

Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area is located in Kashgar City, Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, situated at the northeastern foothills of the Pamir Plateau, the western edge of the Tarim Basin, and the middle reaches of the Kizil River. It is 1,473 kilometers away from Urumqi City. The total area is 1,056.8 square kilometers, bordering Shufu County to the east and west, adjacent to Artux City of the Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture to the north against the Gumata Mountain, and facing Shule County across the Kizilsu River to the south.

Topography and Landforms

Kashgar City, where the scenic area is located, features higher terrain in the north and lower in the south, with the highest elevation at 1,502 meters, the lowest at 1,264 meters, and an average elevation of 1,289.5 meters. It belongs to the alluvial plain of the Kashgar River basin.

Climate Characteristics

Kashgar City, where the scenic area is located, has a warm temperate continental arid climate, with distinct seasons, no extreme heat in summer, no severe cold in winter, long summers and short winters, long sunshine hours, and low precipitation. The multi-year average temperature in Kashgar is 11.7°C, with the highest recorded in 1956 at 13.1°C and the lowest in 1974 at 10.5°C. The average annual precipitation in Kashgar is 61.5 millimeters, with the highest recorded in 1974 at 146.2 millimeters and the lowest in 1979 at only 17.3 millimeters.

III. Key Scenic Spots

Id Kah Mosque

Id Kah Mosque was first built in the seventh year of the Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty (1442 AD). It is located in the center of Kashgar City, on the west side of Id Kah Square, and is an ancient architectural complex with strong ethnic and religious characteristics. In 1962, Id Kah Mosque was designated as a key cultural relic protection unit at the autonomous region level by the People's Government of the Autonomous Region. On June 25, 2001, it was announced by the State Council as part of the fifth batch of national key cultural relic protection units.

Id Kah Mosque mainly consists of the gate tower, prayer hall, call-to-prayer tower, courtyard, ablution rooms, and other auxiliary buildings. It covers a total area of 16,800 square meters. The mosque's architecture is exquisite and magnificent. The prayer hall is composed of inner and outer halls and a long corridor, with 140 carved wooden pillars arranged in a network pattern in the inner and outer halls. The layout of the entire mosque is reasonable, the construction craftsmanship is fine, the decorations are simple and elegant, and the style is unique. It also incorporates Buddhist elements such as the Ruyi symbol, swastika, and lotus.

Gaotai Folk Houses

The Gaotai Folk Houses are located at the northeastern end of Kashgar Ancient City, with towering yellow high-platform slopes standing majestically on all sides. The skyline formed by the integration of the original architectural complex with the topography is well-proportioned and natural, making it a landmark landscape of Kashgar. The Gaotai Folk Houses, known in Uygur as "Kozichyabexi Lane," meaning "pottery on the high cliff," originated over 800 years ago during the Karakhanid period. More than 600 households once lived here, and after generations of settlement and reproduction, a unique original historical district was formed.

Geng Gong Temple

According to the Book of the Later Han, during the Eastern Han Dynasty, Geng Gong, the garrison commander of the Western Regions, was besieged by the Xiongnu army in Shule City. The water source outside the city was cut off, and a well dug inside the city to a depth of fifteen zhang (about 50 meters) yielded no water. In the crisis, Geng Gong straightened his clothes and hat, knelt to worship the heavens, drew his long sword, and dug three chi (about 1 meter) into the ground, after which spring water gushed out. Geng Gong then ordered his soldiers to pour the spring water from the city walls. The Xiongnu, realizing the city had water and thinking the defenders had divine assistance, immediately retreated and fled. This is the famous historical story of "Geng Gong's Prayer for Spring Repels the Xiongnu." This clear spring has since been known as Geng Gong Well, and a temple by the spring is also called Geng Gong Temple.

Ancient City Wall

In the 18th year of the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty (1838 AD), the area between Laining City and Hui City (the Muslim quarter) had already been fully developed into residential areas. Zuhuerdin, the Hakim Beg of Kashgar, presided over the expansion of Hui City, incorporating the area west of Id Kah Mosque to the eastern wall of Laining City into the new city. The western city wall was moved westward to the present-day Youmulakexiehaier Road, connecting with Laining City. A new southern gate was opened at the site of the old post office. Because it was built on an old river channel with accumulated sand, it was called Kumdarvaza (meaning "Sand Gate" in Uygur). The area around the southern gate became a bustling handicraft district. The northern gate was moved to the site of the present-day Victory Cinema, and the western gate was moved to the customs office, called "Yingdarvaza" (meaning "New Gate").

IV. Cultural Resources

Specialty Snacks

  • Grilled Eggs: Chicken eggs and pigeon eggs are grilled whole, then sprinkled with a bit of salt and cumin, preserving their original flavor. The most popular goose eggs are made by opening a small hole in a fresh egg, pouring out some of the egg white, adding 18 kinds of seasonings, and then grilling them. They taste somewhat like glutinous rice, with a faint roasted aroma mixed with sweetness.
  • Rice Sausage & Lung Noodles: Rice sausage is made by stuffing rice into sheep intestines; lung noodles are made by pouring water used to wash gluten into sheep lungs and steaming them. Rice sausage + lung noodles + gluten + cilantro, chili, and vinegar is one of the favorite snacks of Xinjiang people.
  • Pomegranate Juice: With a sweetness level of 14–17%, the amber-colored pomegranate juice is very popular at night markets.
  • Yogurt Zongzi: Unwrap a zongzi (sticky rice dumpling) and place it on a small plate, gently flatten it with a small wooden spatula, spread half a cup of yogurt over the zongzi, and then drizzle with a special syrup made from red dates. This is yogurt zongzi.
  • Spicy Lamb Trotters: When you grab a fatty, smooth, fragrant, and soft spicy lamb trotter with both hands and take a bite, the aroma of the lamb trotter instantly fills your entire mouth, with fresh, fragrant, spicy, and delicious flavors rushing straight to your heart and lungs.

Honors and Awards

  • On July 13, 2015, Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area was approved as a National AAAAA Tourist Attraction by the National Tourism Resources Planning and Development Quality Assessment Committee.
  • In January 2022, Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area was rated as an "Xinjiang Intangible Cultural Heritage Bazaar" by the Culture and Tourism Department of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
  • In June 2023, Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area was awarded the title of "Autonomous Region-Level Intangible Cultural Heritage Market."

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