Kashgar

Located in the extreme southwest of China and bordering several countries, Kashgar is actually closer to Istanbul or Egypt than it is Beijing or Shanghai. This fact is not only true geographically, but also culturally and spiritually. Kashgar is a bustling center of Islamic affairs, cultural clashes, and daily trading with roots tracing back to the origins of the Silk Road, lying at an ever so important crossroads of the east and west. The geographical position is also highly advantageous, with the Tianshan Mountains to the north, Pamir Mountains to the south, and the vast Taklamakan Desert to the east. Nearly all routes of the ancient highway passes through Kashgar. This is a place where travelers and merchants alike traded goods, exchanged ideas, and rested for the long and treacherous journey ahead, whether east through deserts or west through glaciated mountains. Most remarkably, Kashgar still retains a similar vibe.

Here it was often coined the Pearl of the Silk Road due to its strategic location, beauty, and value of goods. Kahsgar was, and still is, a shopping and trading paradise with an abundance of bazaars and markets. The people who are the Uyghurs a friendly people group descending from many regions such as Eurasia and the Middle East. At the center of town is the Grand Bazaar, the largest of its kind in Asia, selling jade, carpets, silk, fruits, and nuts, exhibiting the Uyghurs colorful culture. Further outside of town is the livestock market, a hectic conglomerate of animals and people looking to buy, sell, or trade their livestock. Scattered throughout the streets of Kashgar are various shops and stalls displaying the Uyghurs beautiful heritage, whether it be music, crafts, or food.