Kashgar Old Town

喀什老城

A UNESCO-listed historic district within Kashgar featuring centuries-old mud-brick buildings, winding narrow lanes, and authentic Uyghur residential architecture. Walking through the old town provides an immersive experience of traditional Central Asian urban life with craft workshops and family homes.

Things to do

• Wander the Id Kah Square and Mosque — Explore the largest mosque in China and the heart of Old Town's public life, where you can observe worshippers and observe traditional Islamic architecture up close.
• Visit the Carpet Weaving Workshops — Watch Uyghur artisans hand-weave traditional silk and wool carpets using centuries-old techniques in family-run workshops throughout the narrow lanes.
• Explore the Handicraft Street (Samaniye Mazar Lane) — Browse traditional shops selling copperware, woodcarvings, knives, and embroidered textiles made by local craftspeople using ancestral methods.
• Tour Traditional Uyghur Homes — Step inside preserved residential compounds with interior courtyards to understand daily life and authentic mud-brick architecture that has remained unchanged for centuries.
• Photography Walk at Golden Hour — Navigate the winding lanes during sunrise or sunset when warm light illuminates the mud-brick facades and creates dramatic shadows in the narrow alleyways.
• Visit the Old Town Museum — Learn the history of Kashgar as a Silk Road trading hub through exhibits of artifacts, photographs, and displays of traditional Uyghur culture.

Food to try

• Lamb Kebab (Yangrou Chuar) — Grilled skewers of cubed lamb seasoned with cumin and chili, cooked over charcoal in street stalls throughout the Old Town and a staple of Uyghur cuisine.
• Lagman — Hand-pulled noodles served with a savory sauce of tomatoes, peppers, onions, and meat, representing the signature Central Asian dish of the region.
• Nan Bread — Traditional clay-oven baked flatbread with sesame and nigella seeds, baked fresh daily in family bakeries throughout the Old Town's winding streets.
• Polo (Pilaf) — Rice cooked with carrots, meat, and spices in a large communal pot, often served at family gatherings and in small eateries serving traditional Uyghur meals.
• Samsa — Fried pastry triangles filled with spiced meat and onions, commonly sold by street vendors and at small shops as an affordable snack.
• Shashlik and Green Tea — Meat skewers paired with traditional Uyghur green tea (often with dried fruit or herbs), the classic afternoon ritual in local tea houses.

Local customs & good to know

• Respect Prayer Times and the Mosque — Avoid walking through Id Kah Mosque during the five daily prayers, and dress modestly (covered shoulders and knees) when visiting religious sites.
• Photography Etiquette — Always ask permission before photographing people, especially women and inside homes, as many residents prefer privacy and some may object on religious grounds.
• Learn Basic Uyghur Greetings — Using phrases like 'Assalamu Alaykum' (hello) and 'Rakhmat' (thank you) shows respect and will delight local shopkeepers and residents.
• Visit Early Morning or Late Afternoon — Avoid midday heat and crowds by exploring between 7-9 AM or 4-7 PM when locals are most active and the atmosphere is most authentic.