Kashgar

Overview

About

Kashgar lies in south-western Xinjiang, on the western edge of the Tarim Basin at the foot of the Pamirs; its old name is Shule. The two branches of the ancient Silk Road that ran west along the north and south sides of the Tarim Basin met here before crossing the Pamirs into Central Asia. Kashgar is a largely Uyghur city and a National Famous Historical and Cultural City. See also Cities of China.

Under the Han this was the kingdom of Shule in the Western Regions, where the Eastern Han general Ban Chao was stationed for many years. The Tang made it the garrison of Shule, one of the Four Garrisons of Anxi. Around the tenth century the Kara-Khanid Khanate made Kashgar one of its capitals, and from here Islam spread across the Tarim Basin.

The Id Kah Mosque in the city centre is one of the largest mosques in Xinjiang, and the square in front of it is the heart of the city. Around it, the Old City keeps a large area of traditional Uyghur houses of earth and timber, with winding lanes and workshops making copperware, musical instruments and pottery. North-east of the centre, the Afaq Khoja Mausoleum is the seventeenth-century tomb of a ruling family of Kashgar, with a striking dome of green glazed tiles; it is popularly called the “Tomb of the Fragrant Concubine”.

South-west of Kashgar the Karakoram Highway climbs over the Pamirs past Karakul Lake and Muztagh Ata; beside Tashkurgan town is the Stone City ruin, and farther south is the Khunjerab Pass on the border with Pakistan. In Zepu County, south-east of Kashgar, the Jinhu poplar forest turns golden in autumn.

Travel tips

Getting there: Kashgar has an airport, about two hours’ flight from Urumqi, and can also be reached by train on the Southern Xinjiang Railway. The Karakoram Highway to Tashkurgan and the Khunjerab Pass requires a border permit.

Sightseeing: the Id Kah Mosque and the Old City are in the centre and best seen on foot; dress modestly in the mosque and respect local customs. The Pamirs are high, so watch for altitude sickness before going up.

Stamps

In 2018 China Post issued 2018-14 “Scenery of Kashgar”, four stamps: Kashgar Old City, the Stone City ruins of Tashkurgan, the Jinhu poplars of Zepu, and Khunjerab.

Kashgar Old City
The Stone City ruins of Tashkurgan
The Jinhu poplars of Zepu
And Khunjerab