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kaxgar Introduction
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Kashgar
(or Kashi) is situated in the southwest of Xinjiang.
From the west, this is the first point of arrival on
land routes from Pakistan and Kirgyzistan. Long
a vital stop on the Silk Road, this remote city
some 4000 km from Beijing, used to take up to six
months to reach from the capital! This all changed in
the 1930s when Kashgar became a crucial meeting point
for three empires- the Chinese, the British and the
Soviet Union. A haven for spies and housing some
fabulous consulate buildings, this city was used as a
bastion by the Brits looking west towards India, and
the Soviets, thought to be plotting to absorb Xinjiang.
In 1935, the city was effectively run by the Soviets
until WWII when it came back under Chinese control.
Today, despite modernization and architectural
decline, the city manages to meet most visitors
expectations. The most striking thing about Kashgar is
the Turkestan influence visible on the streets and in
the homes here. This place feels, looks and even
smells dramatically different from the rest of China,
more so than any other city in Xinjiang. And this is
no great surprise really, considering that 90% of the
population are practicing Muslims and Uigur bazaars,
tea houses and faces dominate the streets. What's
more, this is the only city in Central Asia where the
women choose to veil their faces. The old
streets, restaurants and markets here are great for
exploring. The city is particularly busy between May
and October, jam packed with merchants and traders
hot-off the Karakoram Highway from Pakistan and
Kirgyistan.
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Xin
Jiang
