Kashgar: The Living Heart of the Silk Road

Walk through the alleys of Kashgar's old town at dawn and you are walking two thousand years into the past. Camel caravans once rested here on their way from China to Rome; today, Uyghur blacksmiths still hammer copper teapots, bakers pull naan from clay ovens, and the call to prayer echoes over mud-brick rooftops. Of all the Silk Road cities, none has survived as intact, as alive, or as unforgettable as Kashgar.

Why Kashgar Is the Real Silk Road

Xi'an has been modernized. Dunhuang is a museum. Samarkand is being rebuilt for tourists. But Kashgar — a western Uyghur oasis on China's border with Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Pakistan — still lives as a working caravan city. Its Sunday bazaar handles thousands of sheep, horses and camels a week. Its old town of 20,000 mud-brick houses is the largest preserved Islamic neighborhood in Central Asia. For travelers, Kashgar is not a stop on the Silk Road — it is the Silk Road.

Top Things to Do in Kashgar

1. Wander the Old City (Kashgar Ga Cheng). Lose yourself in the labyrinth of narrow alleys between Id Kah Mosque and the Tuman River. Climb to the rooftop terraces for views over the flat rooftops, peek into courtyard homes, and watch artisans at work in their family workshops. Go early in the morning before the tour groups arrive.

2. Id Kah Mosque. China's largest mosque, founded in 1442, holds up to 20,000 worshippers for Friday prayers. The sun-yellow facade and carved wooden columns are stunning. Dress modestly; women should cover their hair at the entrance.

3. The Sunday Bazaar (Grand Bazaar). The largest market in Central Asia. Arrive before sunrise for the livestock section — sheep, goats and horses traded with a handshake and a handshake-on-the-sleeve. Then wander the spice piles, dried fruit mountains, knife sellers, teapot makers and textile rows.

4. Karakul Lake & the Pamir Highway. The half-day drive south on the Karakoram Highway to Karakul Lake (3,600m) is one of the most spectacular roads on earth: snow peaks (7,546m Muztagh Ata reflected in the lake), Tajik nomads with yaks, and the thin, crisp air. You need a border permit — more on that below.

5. Apak Hoja Mausoleum (the "Fragrant Concubine" tomb). A 17th-century Uyghur royal funerary complex covered in turquoise and green tilework, 5km northeast of the old town.

6. Night market at Wushtan (Wuqia) Road. Grilled lamb skewers, naan, polo (pilaf), laghman noodles, baked samsa (meat pastries) and fresh pomegranate juice — eat like a local for under 30 yuan.

Best Time to Visit Kashgar

Kashgar sits in a temperate desert basin at 1,290m. Summer (June–August) is brutal: 35–40°C dry heat. Winter (December–February) is cold and quiet, around -5°C. The golden windows are April–early June and September–October, when days are 20–28°C, nights crisp, and the light perfect for photography. September also brings the grape harvest and the Sunday bazaar is at its busiest.

Uyghur Food: Eat Well Here

Kashgar is the gastronomic capital of Xinjiang. Do not leave without trying: lamb skewers (chuanr) grilled over mulberry-wood charcoal; polo — saffron rice with carrots and lamb, served at weddings every day; laghman hand-pulled noodles; samsa baked lamb pastries; bawsak fried dough; and milk tea with naan for breakfast. The best meals are not in restaurants — they are in the open-air stalls around the bazaar.

Practical Tips

• Border permit: Day trips to Karakul Lake, the Pamir Highway and the China–Pakistan border (Khunjerab Pass) require a border management area permit. Your hotel or tour operator arranges it in 1–2 working days — bring your passport.
• Altitude: Kashgar city itself is low. Karakul Lake is 3,600m — most people feel light-headed for an hour or two. Drink water, avoid alcohol the first day.
• Language: Uyghur and Chinese are spoken; English is limited. Download a translation app or hire a local guide.
• Money: Carry cash to the bazaar — cards don't work at stalls. ATMs are available in the city center.
• Dress: Modest shoulders and knees for the mosque. A scarf doubles as sun protection.
• Getting there: Direct flights from Urumqi (2 hours), Xi'an (3.5 hours), Chengdu (3.5 hours). The overland Silk Road train from Xi'an takes 22 hours overnight — a memorable journey itself.

Suggested Itineraries Through Kashgar

Most Silk Road itineraries treat Kashgar as either a gateway or a destination. From Kashgar you can head south on the Karakoram Highway to Pakistan, west over the Pamir Highway to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, or east along the old Silk Road through Dunhuang and Turpan to Xi'an. Our recommended routes are below.

Two thousand years ago, merchants arrived in Kashgar exhausted from the desert, sold their silk, restocked their camels, and marveled at the city's wealth. Nothing has changed. Kashgar still stops every traveler in their tracks.