Kashgar Old Town

You will never know the real Xinjiang if you've never been to Kashgar, and a journey to Kashgar is never complete without visiting Kashgar Old Town. This ancient city with a history of more than 2100 years is one of the fascinating places in Xinjiang.
As the intersection of three religions and four civilizations, the history of Kashgar Old Town is profound and self-evident. Thousands of years ago, it was destined to become the central commercial port town on the ancient Silk Road, where the trade economy and civilization of the East and the West collided and converged.

The History of Kashgar Old Town

The soul of Kashgar lies in the Kashgar Old Town, which has a history of more than 2,000 years. Located in downtown Kashgar, the old town covers an area of 4.25 square kilometers. Kashgar ancient city, formerly known as "Shule" is one of the thirty-six states in the Western Regions, with a history of more than 2100 years. The earliest records can be found in the ancient Shule recorded by Zhang Qian in the Western Han Dynasty.
From the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties to the Sui Dynasty, and it was recorded that there were 12 big cities and dozens of small towns in Shule state, five li away from the capital. These records let us know the perimeter area of Kashgar Ancient City. Although the location is not specified, we can see the scale of the ancient city.

The Charm of Kashgar Old Town

This rich and varied ancient city has become the most representative historical and cultural landscape in Xinjiang with the charm of history, the art of humanities, the unique flavor, and the passion of Kashgar people. With the development of tourism, more and more tourists are attracted here. People gathered here from all directions as if the prosperity of the ancient Silk Road reappears.

                

The Ancient Buildings & Alleys in Kashgar Old Town

The ancient buildings in Kashgar are the best legacies left to us by history. Civil, brick, and wooden houses are like a history book, which records the stories of a thousand years ago. The splendid national customs and historical culture are still vigorous.
It is a unique maze city with over 200 narrow alleys. If you get lost, the hexagonal bricks under your feet will lead you out of the old town. But if you walk along with the blocks with four corners, you will walk into a blind alley.
Most of the buildings here are a combination of Islamic and Uyghur styles. The houses in the core area are the world's largest adobe complexes. 

                

Bazaars in Kashgar Old Town

In addition, to enjoy the architecture, many unique shops on the streets of the ancient city are also worth visiting. Every street in the old town has its theme, which is called Bazaar. Among them, there are Kantuman Bazaar (blacksmith Street), Dopa Bazaar ( Taqiyah Street ), Flowerpot Bazaar, Handicraft Bazaar, and Pottery Bazaar, to name just a few. Each street has its characteristics and can be viewed along the way. Meanwhile, travelers can also see some Islamic style teahouses on the road, vendors of special snacks such as grapes, Nang, Ewe's Milk, and Ice cream, etc. tourists can taste and stroll when shopping, that will be very pleasant.

                

The Century-Old Teahouse in Kashgar Old Town

The Century-Old Teahouse - located in Kashgar Old town atop a network of tangled, narrow alleyways lined with restaurants and stores – is the most popular among dozens here.
This teahouse has been widely praised in the Moments, and it is also the scene where Amir's father Baba and Baba's loyal friend Rahim watch the kite-fighting was filmed at the local tea house near Id Kah Mosque. As the only century-old tea house in Kashgar, it remains popular among residents and tourists. 
Just walking up the wooden stairs to a balcony overlooking the central bazaar, this two-story rebuilt house gathers crowds of locals, as well as tourists dropping in, for conversations, laughs, and sipping tea from their cups.

               

Home Visit in Kashgar Old Town

Tourists can get a lot of information from the doors of the local houses. If two entries are open, it represents that the male host is at home. If only one door is open, it means only the hostess is at home. And if a curtain is hung over the front door, it means a guest is visiting this family now.

                     Opening Hours & Admission Fee

Opening Hours	10:00 - 20:00 ( Monday - Sunday, 1st January - 31st December).
Admission Fee	CNY 45/pp
Home Visit	CNY 100/pp
Recommended Time For a Visit	3 Hours

Other Travel of Kashgar Old Town

Kashgar Old Town is the only well-preserved labyrinth building block in China, and it is also one of the most significant existing native buildings in the world. The old town covers 171 tourism resources in 6 categories, including natural landscape, ruins, construction facilities, cultural activities, and tourism commodities. It has one world-class intangible cultural heritage and 14 national intangible cultural heritages. If not for personal experience, I can't imagine that 2100 years ago, the local people had such fun and wisdom to create a unique and unusual architectural complex, and this flexible layout is just another charm of Kashgar.

           

How to Get to Kashgar Old Town

1. You can take the bus line 2, 7, 8, 22 or 28 to the old town, and get off at Id Kah Mosque Stop. Bus no.7 runs through the old town, and you can get off at any stop inside the city.
2. It takes about 19 mins (9 km ) to drive from Kashgar Airport to Kashgar Old Town.
3. It takes about 23 mins (12.3 km ) to drive from Kashgar Train Station to Kashgar Old Town.

Travel Tips of Kashgar Old Town

1. The opening ceremony is held at the entrance gate every day at 10:30 a.m., featuring ethnic music and dance performances.
2. Here's a trick to avoid getting lost in the old town. You can always follow the hexagonal bricks under your feet, whereas square blocks will lead you to a dead end. 

Recommended Kashgar Tours

Kashgar City Tour                           Kashgar Travel to Khunjerab Border
Day Tour to Karakul Lake               Kashgar Travel to Karakul Lake