Kashgar is located between 7320' - 7057' east longitude and 3520' - 4018' north latitude, bordering the Taklamakan desert in the east, the Kunlun Range and Ali prefecture of in the south.The neighboring areas is Gansu province and Qinghai province, Tibet Autonomous Region.The physical features is: two river systems of the Yarkant River and the Kashgar River with a total annual runoff of 10.9 to 11.9 billion cubic meters.Its population is 200,000. The area is 162.000 sq km.Its nationalities is Han, Hui and Uyghur.History is :a history of more than 2000 years; belonged to the Zhuangpu prefectural General's Office of the HunIn in Han dynasty; there after, submitted to the authorities of the Western Han dynasty after the trading links with Han formed by Zhang Qian - the special envoy to the Western Region sent by Emperor Wudi; one of the four important towns in Anxi during Tang dyansty; later becoming the seat of government of the Kashgar Councillor in Qing dynasty

Climatic Features: mainly a continental climate; varied greatly with topography as plain climate, desert climate and mountain climate; frost-free period of 215 days

Average Temperature: 11.7C annually with the lowest of -24.4C and the highest of 40.1C

Rainfall: 27 mm annually

Mountains: Mt. Kongur

Rivers: Yarhant River, Kashgar River

Products: wheat, maize cotton, barley, highland barley, rape, sesame, peanuts and flax.

Local Highlights: kashgar's local songs and dance ,crafts, roast lamb, shishi-kebab, and baled fish.

Id Kah Mosque

'Id Kah' means 'a place of praying and celebrating in festivals'. The Id Kah Mosque is located on the central square in Kashgar City, Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region. As the biggest mosque in China, it is a group of old Islamic constructions with strong ethnic style and religious features.

It is said that this place was once a cemetery. The present Id Kah Mosque was built in 1442 as a very small structure. Several renovations and enlargements have created it with today's scale and style.

The whole complex occupies 16,800 square meters (about 4 acres) and consists of the courtyard, the Hall of Prayer, and the gate tower and as well as some other attached structures.

Just inside the gate is a big courtyard. In it, the poplar trees reach the sky and the pines grow vigorously like boys and girls in their adolescence. The whole yard is heavily shaded, making you as cool and comfortable as if you were in an air-conditioned environment. A pond with limpid water is a bright mirror enclosed by the green trees. It endows the mosque with a quiet elegance.

The Hall of Prayer is on a high dais in the west end of the mosque. The roof is held by light blue pillars and all the pillars form a rectangular shape. Around the roof and the pillars are exquisite carvings and beautiful pictures. The brick gate tower faces the Id Kah Square. This tower is full of elaborate flower-pattern carvings, mainly in green.

Every day thousands of worshippers come here to pray. Every Friday afternoon, Muslims living far and near gather here to worship. During religious festivals all the Muslims in Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region come to this sacred place to celebrate. At prayer time, the mosque, the square, the streets and the roads all around are full of piously kneeling Muslims. Afterwards, all the people get together on the square in front of the Id Kah Mosque and dance to show their happiness, with no sign of exhaustion.

Abakh Khoja Tom

Five kilometers (3.1 miles) northeast of Kashgar, an ancient Islamic building nestles among poplar trees. With glazed tiles shining in the sun, its tower points to the azure sky. A masterpiece of Uigur architecture, this is Abakh Khoja Tomb, 17th Century family cemetery of the Kashgar area Islamic leader.

In China the tomb is better known as the Tomb of Xiang Fei, the only Uigur concubine among the 41 wives of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Legend has it that Iparhan, a descendant of Abakh Khoja, exuded an enchanting fragrance without using any perfume, hence the name Xiang Fei (Fragrant concubine in Chinese). She spent 28 years beside the emperor in Beijing, abiding strictly by Islamic doctrines. She wore ethnic costumes and was waited on by a special chef. Before her death at 55 she expressed her desire to be buried in her hometown of Turpan. The emperor so loved her that he had her coffin of clothes sent back to where it is now. This cost 124 people three years and a half. The ancient cart carrying the coffin of Xiangfei still stands in front of the mausoleum, adding a touch of mystery to the building. According to archeological findings, the authentic tomb of Xiang Fei is in the East Qing Tomb near Beijing.

Built from 1640, the tomb covers an area of about five acres. Just inside the gate is a large rectangular courtyard made up of a gate tower, worship walls, Doctrine-Teaching Hall, and tomb chamber.

The tomb chamber is the main building in the group, the most magnificent mausoleum in Xinjiang. Its base is rectangular with a huge brick column at each corner. The dome of the main tomb chamber is semicircular with a diameter of 17 meters (55.7 feet). At its top is a circular edifice with a crescent. The chamber is 36 meters (118 feet) long and 27 meters (88.5 feet) high. The tomb faces south with a staircase leading to the top of the tomb. The gate to the tomb is decorated with exquisite plaster patterns. The walls and the dome are covered with green glazed tiles. Ceramic tiles with colored patterns and Arabic words dot the four sides as well. Fifty-eight tombs provide resting places for five generations of 72 people in the Abakh Khoja family. All coffins are covered with gorgeous silk and satin. The stone coffin of Xiang Fei lying inconspicuously in the southeast corner attracts many visitors.

Abakh Khoja Tomb is admired as a well-preserved Islamic architectural complex not only in Xinjiang, but throughout Central Asia. Xiang Fei's love story intrigues tourists from home and abroad.

Bazaar

"I think everyone should see the Sunday Market in Kashi (Kashgar) at least once. I arrived there in the early morning while it was still dark. More and more horses, donkeys and sheep gradually entered the market, followed by farmers and herdsmen selling carriages, furniture and fruits. The growing procession and rising noise and excitement stirred something within me."
Owing to its favorable position, countless merchants from many parts of the world would go to Kashgar, so it was also known as "the pearl on the Ancient Silk Road". Bazaars are the focus of activity nearly every day, with stalls dotted here and there, and crowded streets. Throughout the bazaars, you will find some stalls that sell everything while others specialize and sell local produce, arts and crafts, garments, knives, timber, coal, and animals.

Kashgar is especially famous for its delicate knives sold in the streets by hawkers. It is also a hat-making center and certain sections of streets are devoted entirely to the selling of hats and beautiful fur-lined headgear. Blacksmiths' shops line both sides of the streets, and the sound from them can be heard everywhere. Colorful painted wooden saddles are on sale, and you can pick your dinner from a choice line-up of goats' heads and hooves. The western part of the bazaar is devoted mainly to Uigur and Kyrgyz, while the eastern part is for household goods and hardware.

Today, although most of the bazaars have disappeared, we can still find the past glory of this ancient city in what remains.

Id Kah Mosque

'Id Kah' means 'a place of praying and celebrating in festivals'. The Id Kah Mosque is located on the central square in Kashgar City, Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region. As the biggest mosque in China, it is a group of old Islamic constructions with strong ethnic style and religious features.

It is said that this place was once a cemetery. The present Id Kah Mosque was built in 1442 as a very small structure. Several renovations and enlargements have created it with today's scale and style.

The whole complex occupies 16,800 square meters (about 4 acres) and consists of the courtyard, the Hall of Prayer, and the gate tower and as well as some other attached structures.

Just inside the gate is a big courtyard. In it, the poplar trees reach the sky and the pines grow vigorously like boys and girls in their adolescence. The whole yard is heavily shaded, making you as cool and comfortable as if you were in an air-conditioned environment. A pond with limpid water is a bright mirror enclosed by the green trees. It endows the mosque with a quiet elegance.

The Hall of Prayer is on a high dais in the west end of the mosque. The roof is held by light blue pillars and all the pillars form a rectangular shape. Around the roof and the pillars are exquisite carvings and beautiful pictures. The brick gate tower faces the Id Kah Square. This tower is full of elaborate flower-pattern carvings, mainly in green.

Every day thousands of worshippers come here to pray. Every Friday afternoon, Muslims living far and near gather here to worship. During religious festivals all the Muslims in Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region come to this sacred place to celebrate. At prayer time, the mosque, the square, the streets and the roads all around are full of piously kneeling Muslims. Afterwards, all the people get together on the square in front of the Id Kah Mosque and dance to show their happiness, with no sign of exhaustion.

Admission Fee: RMB 15
Opening Hours 08:50 to 10:00
Recommended Time for a Visit: One hour
Bus Route: 77, 13

Karakuri Lake

Karakuri Lake, known as the father of glaciers, sits at an elevation of 3600 meters (1,1808 feet) and is located at the foot of Mount Maztagata. It is an unspoiled place like Shangri-La with its dramatic and spectacular natural scenery. The surface of the lake reflects the snow-covered peaks of Mount Muztagata, which towers in the background. Hikes and walks around here are refreshing, especially in summer when flowers bloom and the air is fresh and pleasant. However, it can get very cold at this altitude, so bring extra clothing with you to keep warm. For the entire walk around the lake you will need a whole day. You can also spend more time here, staying in the Kazakh Yurts or camping if you have your own tent.

How to get there: Buses leave daily at 8:30 a.m. from the long distance bus station in Kashgar.

To return simply flag down a passing minibus on the road that is heading in your direction.

Admission Fee: RMB 20 (Exluding 50 for additional pass)
Recommended
Time for a Visit: One day

Three Immortals Buddhist Caves

Three Immortals Buddhist Caves of Han Dynasty (206BC--220) lie in north of Kashgar. The Caves are on a cliff on the side the mountain near to a river. It is about 13 meters (about 17 yards) down the bottom of the cliff and about 8 meters (about 10 yards) from the cliff top. The cliff face is vertical and so smooth that no plants grow on it. It is impossible for people to reach without the aid of climbing equipment.

According to the textual research, the Caves were cut in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). They are one of the earliest Buddhist caves in western China, and are possibly 300 or 400 years older than the Mogao Caves . So the value of study the art of Buddhist caves and the history of eastern introduction of Buddhism occupies a pivotal position.

There are 3 caves, West Cave, Middle Cave and East Cave. They are 2 meters high and 1 meter wide with rectangular entrances side by side. Each cave consists of a big front chamber and a small rear chamber, the rear chamber being half the size of the front one. Only East Cave retains a sunken panel and most of the murals survive. This is on the ceiling of the front chamber and the wall of rear chamber. A painted Buddha on the ceiling of this cave, whose cassock was painted in interphase blue, green and red colors which is very rare in the earlier Buddhist murals. There is no original mural in West Cave. From the chiseling marks it appears the murals have been stolen. No initial murals were kept in the Middle Cave due to a reconstruction in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). During the reconstruction, murals were repainted on the wall. Although the present paintings are complete, the artistic style is totally different from the original ones in the other caves.

There is a legend on cutting the pearl of Buddhism art, Three Immortals Buddhist Caves. Long time ago, a King had a little pretty princess who was very weak. One day, a fortune-teller told the King that if the princess was not stung by bees in 100 days, she would escape from the disaster. But in such a place, full of fruits, how can the little girl avoid bees? Afterwards, they decided to cut a cave on the mountain. In order to make the princess comfortable, the workmen painted on the wall and decorated the caves like a palace. Unfortunately, the princess was stung in the 99th day when she cried for grapes even though the grapes were checked many times. The princess died, but the carvings and paintings were left forever.

The legend also adds some mysterious color and attracts people here from far away. But as it is a dangerous place for people to reach; most of them only look from a distance.

Note: The cave is very dangerous and we do not suggest it as a sight seeing spot.