Kashgar Travel

Kashgar Travel
On the western border of the Taklimakan Desert in southwest Xinjiang, there is a beautiful oasis, in the center of which stands the old and ancient charming city of Kashgar .

As early as 2,000 years ago, Kashgar, covering an area of 162,000 square kilometers, was an important outpost on the northern Silk Road. A total of 17 different ethnic groups live here. Of the whole population of 3.34 million, more than 92% are Uygurs. Islam is the dominant religion of Kashgar. More than 9000 big or small mosques are widely spread in the region.

An hour’s walk through town will reveal Uygur craftsmen with decades of history on their weather-worn faces; markets with rows of shimmering silks, knives and jewelry and narrow backstreets lined with old plaster-thatch homes. With all the trading activity, one couldn’t call Kashgar ‘laid-back’, but it has a great atmosphere and is a fine place to settle back for a week or so.
Transportation

By plane:
There are daily flights between Kashgar and Urumqi . The flight takes one and a half hours and costs around RBM1300. During high seasons it is a good idea to book tickets as far in advance as possible. This can be done at the Xinjiang Airline Office on Jiefang Nan Lu , south of the People’s Hotel. The airport is 11 km from the city center and there are regular bus services from the airport to the city for RMB6. A taxi should cost approximately RMB30.

By train:
A new railroad has just been constructed and put to use around Kashgar. It takes 24 hours on the train to reach Urumqi. A hard sleeper ticket costs RMB310 and a soft sleeper costs RMB430. Tickets can be bought from the ticket office outside the train station in Kashgar.

By bus:
The bus between Urumqi and Kashgar goes via Aksu , Kuqa , Korla and Toksun . The trip takes about 36 hours and costs RMB150. Sleeper buses are more comfortable and cost RMB250. Some people hire jeeps and drivers and cover the distance this way. The best place to find out more information about this is in John’s Information Cafe opposite the Seman Hotel . There are also buses from Kashgar to Tashkurgan , which is the last town along the Karakoram Highway that heads to Pakistan .
Where to go

Kashgar Bazaar ,Id Kah Mosque, Abakh Hoja Tomb, Kara Kul lake ,Kashgar Live Stock Market…
What to eat
There are plenty of good local restaurants. For a variety of snacks and dishes, try the food stalls opposite the Id Kah mosque. The stalls abound during the evening. During the summer months there are huge heaps of melons and watermelons - cheap, tasty and refreshing.
Where to stay
Seman Hotel In an old Russian consulate building, the rooms are oddly-shaped with simple bathrooms, commons areas have high ceilings and military-themed oil paintings