7 Days in Kashgar

Gate-opening ceremony at the east gate around 10:00-10:30 Beijing Time; local life runs two hours behind the phone. Potteries, copper workshops, teahouse balcony.

1. Kashgar Old City
2. kashgar old teahouse

Founded in 1442, the mosque welcomes visitors outside the five daily prayer times with modest dress; around it, coppersmiths and potters keep the old trades going.

1. kashgar id kah mosque
2. kashgar craft lanes

The 17th-century tiled domes of the Abakh Hoja family tomb 5 km northeast (entry around CNY 30), then bargaining at the trade market — fullest on Sundays.

1. kashgar xiangfei garden
2. kashgar grand bazaar

Old housing on the loess terraces above the Tuman River, then the Sunday livestock bazaar on the city edge — sheep, goats, horses and donkeys trade in a swirl of dust.

1. kashgar gaotai minju
2. kashgar sunday livestock bazaar

Up the G314 about 190 km, stopping at White Sand Lake's dunes; sleep in a Kyrgyz yurt at 3,600 m or push on down to town. Muztagh Ata (7,546 m) fills the skyline.

1. kashgar white sand lake
2. kashgar karakul lake

A border-zone county, so carry passports and expect checks; Chinese residents arrange the border permit in advance. The stone fortress ruins sit above the wetland meadows at about 3,100 m; overnight in Tashkurgan town.

1. kashgar tashkurgan stone city
2. kashgar golden grassland

The mountain road east of town packs over 600 bends into about 36 km — drive it with a local or take it slowly in the morning light. Then the 290-km run back to Kashgar (4-5 hours) for the evening bazaar streets.

1. kashgar panlong road