"South Xinjiang VS North Xinjiang Ultimate Showdown｜3 Days in Kashgar to Overturn Your Perception of Xinjiang"

"Not been to Kashgar, not really been to Xinjiang!" This millennium-old city alive on the Silk Road, where Uyghur culture flows like a melody, the golden domes of mosques shine under the sun, and the aroma of baked buns drifts through the earth-toned alleys. In Kashgar, time is frozen amber, each frame an illustration from "One Thousand and One Nights." Keep this guide handy to dive into the most authentic life of the Western Regions! **Must-Visit Attractions In-Depth Tour** 🏰 1. **Kashgar Old Town (5A Scenic Area)** 📍 Address: Jiefang North Road, Kashgar City 🎯 **Highlights**: A maze-like cluster of adobe buildings, home to the world's largest Islamic-style ancient residential area! Watch the city opening ceremony at 10:30 AM, follow the elderly men wearing flower hats into the craftsmen’s street, hear the clinking of copper shops, and see children playing by the colorful gates 😄. 💡 **Tips**: - Free entry! Sightseeing bus costs 30 RMB (walking to explore alleys recommended) - Best photo spot ▶️ "Sky Garden" for aerial shots (navigate to [Old Town Corner] café upstairs) 2. **Id Kah Mosque (Soul of Central Asia)** 📍 Address: Intersection of Jiefang North Road and Nuorbeixi Road ⏰ Open: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM (closed during prayer times) 🌟 **Stunning Features**: Golden crescent atop the minaret + 140 carved wooden pillars, can accommodate 10,000 worshippers! Pigeons circle the outer square, and the evening light through the arcades is breathtaking✨. 3. **Xiangfei Garden (Travel Through Qing Palace Legend)** 📍 Address: Xiangfei Road, Haohan Township 🎭 **Must-See Performances**: 👉 12:00 PM / 4:00 PM "Xiangfei Welcoming Guests" Uyghur song and dance 👉 Live wedding custom show (immersive experience as the "groom" 👨❤️👨) 💰 Ticket: 120 RMB (includes guided tour) 4. **Pamir Plateau (One-Day Snow Mountain Chase)** 🚐 Transport: Private car rental (600 RMB/car) or group tour 📸 **Heavenly Photo Spots**: - **Baisha Lake** ▶️ Silver sands and turquoise water reflecting Muztagh Ata Peak - **Karakul Lake** ▶️ Ice mountain reflections like a giant oil painting 🏔️ 💉 **Altitude Reminder**: Bring oxygen bottle! Altitude 3800m, risk of altitude sickness **Taste Explosion! Kashgar Food Map** 🍢 | **Food** | **Recommended Shop** | **Address** | **Price per Person** | | Baked Buns | Id Kah Delicacies | West Entrance of Old Town | 3 RMB each 🔥 | | Pot Meat | Ancient Ice Mountain Specialty Ice Cream Shop | Noerbeixi Road No. 28 | 25 RMB | | Pigeon Soup | Kaimierding Blue Pigeon | Xiamalebage Town | 40 RMB | | Rose Jam Naan | Grandpa’s Grandpa’s Dad’s Naan | Craftsmen Street, Old Town | 8 RMB | **⚠️ Hidden Eating Tip**: Pair with brick tea to cut the grease! At night market [Han Bazaar], lamb skewers thicker than your arm 🍖 **Accommodation Guide** 🛏️ ▶️ **Old Town Homestays** (Immersive first choice): - **Wulan Homestay**: Uyghur courtyard with grapevine breakfast 💰300+ - **Jiulongquan Inn**: Terrace overlooking mosque night view 🌃💰500+ ▶️ **Comfortable Hotels** (Convenient transport): - Radisson Hotel Kashgar (5-star): 15 minutes from airport 💰800+ - Home Inn Express (Jiefang Road Branch): Walking distance to Old Town 💰200 **❗Peak Season Tip**: Prices double from June to October, book 1 month in advance! **Complete Transport Guide** 🚌 ✈️ **Major Transport**: - From Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen → Urumqi → transfer flight to Kashgar (2h, ticket 800+ RMB) - Train: Urumqi → Kashgar (16h green train, experience slow Western life) 🚖 **Local Transport**: 1. **Taxi**: Starting fare 8 RMB, within Old Town around 20 RMB 2. **Bus**: Sightseeing Line 1 circles the city (get e-card via Alipay) 3. **Tricycle ("Horse Cart")**: Exclusive narrow alley experience, remember to bargain! 8 Hard-Learned Tips 💥 1️⃣ **Time Difference**: Kashgar uses Beijing time, but restaurants serve lunch only at 2 PM! 2️⃣ **Sun Protection**: UV index off the charts‼️ Sunglasses + SPF50+ essential 3️⃣ **Security Check**: Always carry ID! Entry to Old Town requires ID scan 4️⃣ **Bargaining**: Cut prices in half at Grand Bazaar, wool shawls no more than 100 RMB 5️⃣ **Taboos**: 🙅 Do not photograph veiled Muslim women 🙅 No shorts or loud talking inside mosques 6️⃣ **Currency**: WeChat Pay widely accepted, carry 200 RMB cash for emergencies 7️⃣ **Language**: Learn the Uyghur greeting "Yaxshim" (Hello) to earn smiles 😊 8️⃣ **Safety**: Avoid remote alleys after 10 PM **Conclusion:** When the sunset gilds Areya Road, and elders in teahouses play the rawap, you know Kashgar’s magic is working—here there are no tourists, only strangers returning home. Set off with this guide, let the snowmelt of the Pamirs cleanse your soul, and let the alleys of the Old Town wrap time around you 🌄✨