Kashgar travel guide
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Not having been to Kashgar is the same as not having been to Xinjiang, or so the locals say. Kashgar’s Old Town is a purely Uyghur ancient city of mud-brick houses. Standing on a rooftop terrace,…
9 places · In the guidebook: pages 887–898
Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region · AI illustration for China Trip
Quick itinerary
Kashgar in 4 days
- Day 1
- Id Kah Mosque→
- Kashgar Old Town→
- Gaotai Dwellings→
- Xiangfei Tomb→
- Kashgar Grand Bazaar
- Day 2
- Kashgar→
- Dawankun Desert
- Day 3
- Kashgar→
- Karakul Lake→
- Pamir Plateau→
- Tashkurgan (overnight)
- Day 4
- Tashkurgan→
- Khunjerab Pass Border Port
The feel of the place
- A Place Free of Clamour
- Not having been to Kashgar is the same as not having been to Xinjiang, or so the locals say. Kashgar’s Old Town is a purely Uyghur ancient city of mud-brick houses. Standing on a rooftop terrace, you can hear the call to prayer drifting from the minaret, like a melody that never changes. Uyghur merchants are not old-fashioned, but they never shout from the roadside; everything is so familiar that business goes on as peacefully as daily life. Vivid colours flash by, from the dresses and headscarves of little Uyghur girls, a bright spot of liveliness amid the calm that only makes Kashgar feel quieter still. Standing at a crossroads, you feel as if you have been here before, yet you have no idea which way to go.
Elders and Children
The Uyghur elders and children in Kashgar’s Old Town are very charming, with smiles on their faces. Children greet you warmly as soon as they see you, and when you take out a camera, they immediately strike different poses so you can take all the photos you want. After the shoot, they love to look at their own images on the camera before running off.
Things to see
Gaotai Dwellings
Only here can you truly feel the pulse of ancient Kashgar through its unusual dwellings. The Uyghur people have lived here for generations, in houses built against the cliffside. Among these haphazardly constructed buildings, with rooms stacked upon rooms, structures rising over lanes and bridges spanning streets, criss-crossing alleys have formed, like a vast maze where it is easy to lose your way. The Gaotai Dwellings are both an ideal place for traditional Uyghur handicrafts and a showcase of Uyghur decorative arts, carving and painting. Visitors from China and abroad have praised them as the “living folk museum of the Uyghur people.”
2–3 hours · Free
Kashgar Old Town
A filming location for parts of the famous film The Kite Runner, Kashgar Old Town is the living embodiment of Kashgar's long history. Its streets and alleys crisscross and wind, making it China's only maze-like urban district with a distinctly Islamic cultural character. The houses lining the roads, built mainly of brick, earth and timber, are simple and elegant, and some have stood for over a century. Wandering its lanes is therefore the best way to understand the customs and culture of the local people.
4 hours · Free
Fragrant Concubine Tomb (Apak Khoja Tomb)
The Fragrant Concubine Tomb, also known as the Apak Khoja Mazar, lies in the Fragrant Concubine Garden in Haohan Village, 5 km east of Kashgar. Construction began in 1640. The palace-style Islamic mausoleum, dominated by blue and white glazed tiles, is a model of Uyghur architectural art. It holds 72 members of the Apak Khoja family across five generations. The most famous of them is Apak Khoja, who won hereditary control of the Yarkent Khanate and led the Islamic Ishaqiyya sect in the 17th century. The Fragrant Concubine was Apak Khoja's granddaughter, Iparhan.
2–3 hours · Off-season ¥60; peak season ¥120
Kashgar Grand Bazaar
The Kashgar Grand Bazaar lies by the eastern gate of Kashgar city and is the largest international trade market in Northwest China. In the past, merchant caravans from Xi'an converged here, whether they travelled the northern or southern routes along the Tianshan Mountains. With more than 2,000 years of history, the bazaar is a great place to find many distinctive local goods.
3–4 hours
Getting there & around
Getting There and Away
Air
Kashgar Airport is the largest airport in southern Xinjiang, with flights to and from Urumqi every day. It also operates flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Xi’an, Ali, Jinan and Chengdu.
Rail
The Southern Xinjiang Railway terminates at Kashgar, making it the westernmost city in China that can be reached by train.
Road
Buses to Urumqi leave from the International Bus Station, with many departures. For Tashkurgan, you can buy tickets at Kashgar Bus Station on Tiannan Road for ¥41. You can also catch a bus at the Tashkurgan County Liaison Office on Xiyu Avenue. There are many small four-wheel delivery trucks heading to Tashkurgan that you can hitch a ride on for ¥50, and some taxis go there too, at a reference price of ¥60–80.
Getting Around
Taxis start at ¥5. In the Old Town, three-wheeled motorcycles are available, and buses 17, 20, 28, 29 and 55 all serve the railway station. Another option is renting a bicycle, which most hotels and restaurants offer. It suits travellers who have time to explore at a leisurely pace.
Airport Information Desk
Airport Information Desk- Phone:
- 0998-2926600/2922600
Kashgar Railway Station
Rail- Phone:
- 0998-5637222
Kashgar International Bus Station
Kashgar International Bus Station- Address:
- No. 5 Airport Road, Kashgar City
- Phone:
- 0998-2963630
Kashgar Bus Station
Kashgar Bus Station- Address:
- No. 29 Tiannan Road, Kashgar City
- Phone:
- 0998-2829673
Tashkurgan County Bus Station
Tashkurgan County Bus Station- Address:
- No. 385 Tashkurgan Road
- Phone:
- 0998-3421576
Eat & drink
Xunyang Taste Restaurant
Recommended EateriesYak beef hotpot, a specialty of the plateau, is well worth a try.
- Address:
- Near Kaitu International Hot Spring Hotel
- Phone:
- 0998-3492555
Where to stay
Atour Hotel (Kashgar Old Town)
Atour Hotel (Kashgar Old Town)- Address:
- No. 29 Tiannan Road
- Phone:
- 19190016222
Shopping
The most worthwhile shopping destination in Kashgar is the Kashgar Grand Bazaar mentioned earlier. It has more than 5,000 stalls selling cloth, cotton, carpets, gold and silver jewellery, earthenware, tobacco, clothing, footwear, knives, furs, livestock, fruit, vegetables, grain, furniture, second-hand goods, Persian handicrafts, and a wide range of food and drink.
Shopping Picks
Halal Restaurants
Do not miss the halal restaurants in Kashgar. The text written on the menus by waiters and the atmosphere of the dining rooms will make you feel as if you have stepped into the Middle East.
Local Snacks
Kashgar’s snacks are carefully prepared, nutritious and good value. The most distinctive include whole roast lamb (烤全羊), lamb skewers, nan-oven roast meat (馕坑烤肉), baked baozi, pilaf (抓饭), hand-pulled noodles (拉面), youta flatbread (油塔子), nan bread, sanzi twists (馓子), ququ (曲曲), grilled fish (烤鱼), stuffed noodle “lungs” (灌面肺) and stuffed rice sausage (灌米肠). There are also various offal dishes, such as sheep’s stomach, heart, liver, head and trotters.
Bring a Tent
Accommodation outside Kashgar’s urban area is not very convenient. Some places have no hotels or guesthouses, and some have no residents at all, so be sure to bring an outdoor camping tent.
Handicrafts
Shopping PicksKashgar has long been called the “small centre of folk art,” with internationally renowned small handicrafts in a range of distinctive ethnic styles. Recommended: take a look at Craftsmen’s Street (职人街).
Carpets
Recommended ShoppingKashgar's carpets are also very famous.
Knives
Recommended ShoppingKnives produced in Yengisar County, Kashgar, have enjoyed a reputation for over 400 years and typically cost around ¥20 each. If you want a high-quality knife made from special steel, tell the vendor, as the best blades are not sold openly.
Fruit
Recommended ShoppingKashgar's fruit is well worth sampling.
- 1. Yengisar knives: For the best selection, visit the Yengisar Knife Factory at No. 48 Huayuan Road, Yengisar County. Its knives are finished with great care and come with silver, stag antler or antelope horn handles. The folk brand “A'na'er Guli” is also well known. Knives bought at the bazaar cannot be carried onto a plane and may not even be accepted as checked luggage, so it is best to buy them and have them posted home. 2. Bargaining: Bargaining is customary when shopping. If you cannot agree on a price, place your right hand over your heart, give a small bow and say “No thanks, I'll pass.” Never behave disrespectfully toward members of ethnic minority communities.
Day trips & beyond
Pamir Plateau
The Pamir Plateau's scenery is celebrated as one of the most beautiful in the world. Here you will find Tajik villages in Tashkurgan, Karakul Lake (one of Xinjiang's three great lakes), and a spectacular array of snow-capped peaks: Muztagh Ata (7,546 m), Kongur Peak (7,719 m), Kongur Jiubie Peak (7,595 m) and Qogir Peak (K2) (8,611 m).
2–3 days
Karakul Lake
“Karakul” means “Black Sea.” The lake lies 198 km south of Kashgar, on the Subash Grassland at an altitude of 3,600 m, near National Highway 314 leading to Khunjerab. Its backdrop is Muztagh Ata, known as the “Father of Snow Mountains.” Muztagh Ata rises to 7,509 m and is a famous mountaineering destination. Its majestic, pure and elegant form, along with its beautiful legends, has made it a symbol of pure love for the Tajik people. The lake covers 10 square km and consists of two connected lakes with dark green waters.
2–3 hours
Khunjerab Pass Border Port
The scenery here may not be as spectacular as you imagine, but as the final stop on the Pamir Plateau journey, nearly every traveller comes here to pose for a photo by the border marker.
3–4 hours
Dawakun Desert Scenic Area
The Dawakun Tourist Scenic Area lies in Tielimu Township, Yopurga County, 6 km from Provincial Highway 310 and 110 km from Kashgar city. It is easy to reach and is known as the “Home of China's Desert Scenery Tourism.” The Dawakun Desert Scenic Area is home to a natural flowing lake covering more than 20,000 mu (about 13 square km), surrounded by 2 million mu (about 1,333 square km) of desert, so sand and water meet, with rippling blue waves. Newly built European-style villas, yurts with a distinctive Uyghur flavour, and an ethnic cultural park dot the lakeside.
0.5–1 day
Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 887–898. Translated from the Chinese edition; names and prices follow the guidebook. · Plain text version