Over the years, I have traveled to many places and traveled abroad many times. But never been to Xinjiang. As native southerners, the word "Xinjiang" is very far away to us. Uyghur dances, Xinjiang red dates, kebabs... It is easy to think of these labels when talking about Xinjiang.
This autumn, I came to the real Xinjiang. Departing from Guangzhou, transiting in Urumqi, it took 7 hours to arrive in Xinjiang over 5,000 kilometers. The first thing the plane landed, I sent a Moments: I can fly to the Maldives for more than seven hours on this trip, but I didn’t expect to fly out of our great China. Xinjiang, I'm finally here!
The vast land and abundant resources are just so domineering. Every day in Xinjiang, I gradually fell in love with it like falling in love again, and it became more and more irresistible. How can there be such a charming place? Every day I can't help mumbling to myself.
Due to the tight departure time, I came here with almost no strategy. This time I'm only traveling in southern Xinjiang. The old city of Kashgar is the most leisurely and comfortable place I have stayed.
The first time I came to southern Xinjiang, I felt like I was in a foreign country. I was intoxicated by the flowers and trees here. When I was walking, I passed the Id Kah Mosque inadvertently. At the corner, there are Uyghur craftsmen with various skills. The omnipresent Grand Bazaar, and the solemn Xiangfei Tomb.
It is said that autumn in Xinjiang is the most beautiful. Very lucky to meet her in the most beautiful season. It completely stimulates my desire to take pictures here, because every place is very intriguing and inextricable. Next, I want to share with you my trip to southern Xinjiang carefully. I want to show you the real Xinjiang.
Southern Xinjiang travel itinerary:
Day1. Guangzhou - Urumqi - Kashi
Day2. Kashgar Ancient City
Day3. Kashgar Grand Bazaar - Fragrant Concubine Tomb
Day4. Liusha River in Baisha Mountain - Karakule Lake + Muztag Iceberg
About aviation: Most flights from southern cities to Xinjiang need to transfer. There is no direct flight from Guangzhou to Kashgar, so Urumqi has become a transit city.
It is recommended to choose a window position, so that you can see the very shocking Tianshan Snow Mountains on the plane. Very beautiful~
About taking a car: The accommodation and transportation in Kashgar in southern Xinjiang are very convenient. The airport is less than 10 kilometers away from the city, and the starting price of a taxi is 5 yuan, which is very cheap. Wherever you go, you can hail a taxi directly on the side of the road. It should be noted that not every taxi driver can speak or understand Chinese.
In terms of hotels, there are few choices of high-end five-star hotels, and most of them are chain hotels with high cost performance. There is no need to worry too much about safety issues. There are security guards on duty at the entrance of the hotel in Nanjiang, and security checks are required for the bags you carry in and out.
About the climate: Kashgar is sandwiched between the plateau and the desert. The ancient city is relatively hot, the air is relatively dry, and the temperature difference between day and night is large. It is recommended to protect yourself from sun protection and moisturizing. Sunscreen must be carried with you, and sunglasses and scarves are also recommended to prevent sudden cooling or exposure to the sun.
About attractions:
1. The ancient city of Kashgar is an old city full of Uyghur customs. The best places to visit in the scenic area are Wusitang Boyi Millennium Ancient Street, Id Kah Mosque, and various streets. Almost every street has its own theme. : Kantuman Bazaar (Blacksmith Street), Flower Pot Bazaar, Pottery Bazaar, Handicraft Bazaar, Dopa Bazaar (Flower Hat Street), etc.
2. Kashgar Grand Bazaar, the largest market in Kashgar.
3. Xiangfei Tomb, an exquisite Islamic ancient building complex, explore the legend of Xiangfei.
4. Karakule Lake, a lake that changes color with radiance, is very beautiful.
5. Baisha Lake, the pure and breathtaking lake scenery, the scenery of the two lakes is very good, it is worth visiting.
The beauty of southern Xinjiang begins in the ancient city of Kashgar
Stepping into the ancient city of Kashgar for the first time seems to have entered the Central Asian region with Islamic customs. Every earth, every building, every word, every person, and every costume here are full of Islamic and Uyghur folk customs. When you come here, What you can see is the cultural atmosphere of Kashgar that impresses you, and every place is worth savoring carefully.
Speaking of Kashgar in Xinjiang, it is located at the westernmost end of mainland China and was an important commercial port on the ancient Silk Road. Zhang Qian once passed by here on his mission to the Western Regions. Kashgar is known as the Pearl of the Silk Road.
Kashgar is surrounded by mountains on three sides and one side is open. Among them, the beautiful Pamirs stand high in the west. Although the climate is dry and hot, it is nourished by glaciers and is a large oasis.
The predecessor of the ancient city of Kashgar was Shule City in the Western Han Dynasty, which was formed in the 16th century AD. Most of the old city dwellings are adobe buildings with a long history, which has the charm of going back to ancient times through history. The current ancient city of Kashgar is the center of Kashgar City in Xinjiang. It has strong Islamic and Uyghur unique customs. Once you have been here, you will know that "if you have not been to Kashgar, you have not been to Xinjiang" is really true.
I found that the leisurely Kashgar people especially like to plant flowers and trees next to the house, and they are very good at living. As for the matter of drying clothes, I didn't see it at all.
Every street, every staircase, and every old teahouse you walk through is the imprint of the old time left over from hundreds of years. In the ancient city of Kashgar, the old houses piled up on the high land of yellow soil are like abandoned piles of yellow soil, with a sense of desolation and leisure isolated from the world. Compared with the high-rise buildings outside, it is a bit out of place and unusual. Fortunately, this old city has not been abandoned, and some dilapidated houses inside have even been repaired, trying to restore a relatively complete appearance of the ancient city to people.
The old houses built with yellow earth bricks and wood are very fresh and artistic.
If you have watched "The Kite Runner", here you can trace the movie picture in your mind, "For you, thousands of times". In the whole of Central Asia and even in the world, there is no well-preserved large architectural complex with Islamic style like Kashgar, so this old city has become the most important location for the movie "The Kite Runner".
There is a two-hour time difference between Kashgar and Beijing, and it doesn't start to dawn until eight o'clock in the morning here. I was in the ancient city of Kashgar for two days, so I changed my clothes the next day. The film was found to be super beautiful. Tips for everyone, be sure to wear a brightly colored dress to travel to southern Xinjiang, the photos taken in this way will definitely make you super satisfied.
Under normal circumstances, the ancient city can be visited in three hours, but I just came here several times. Because I like it so much, it is also suitable for travel photography. Wearing a beautiful skirt, I can’t stop taking pictures from the street to the end of the street or even into a dead end.
Twists and turns, dim and distinct, light and shadow. Kashgar's soul old city, quintessential earthen architecture, exotic architectural elements, walking in the maze is also going back to the ancient past through the old city.
Because the daily hours are long and the light is sufficient. I don't even spare the flowers and plants. It is really an ideal shooting world for photographers! The morning in the ancient city is so vigilant, the streets and alleys, the small flowers and grass are gradually waking up under the soft sunshine, it is quiet and harmonious, a lazy ancient city with the quiet beauty of time!
The exterior walls and doors of almost every house will have exquisite and unique geometric patterns, which are both grainy and aesthetic. The windows have also been decorated, and the green window arches can make a big picture wherever you stand.
My favorite stairs and patterned walls, there will always be surprises when you turn a corner. The building embodies the deep culture of the Uighurs in the Western Regions.
A photo with the locals. The doors in the ancient city of Kashgar are very particular. If you see a closed door in the local area, it means that the owner is not at home. A half door means that the host or hostess is at home. If two doors are open, it means that the host and hostess are both at home. Welcome Visit home.
The first imprint on Kashgar started from the thousand-year-old street of Wusitang Boyi Road. Through the years, it is hard to imagine such a bustling and bustling street, which used to be the seat of King Gushule’s palace. Starting from the Id Kah Mosque, this street extends to the outside of the ancient city, about a kilometer long. The streets are full of people's favorite shops and local handicrafts.
The scale of the ancient city is relatively large. It is recommended to come early, and then walk around various shops selling different shops on Wusitang Boyi Road. You will find a lot of interesting things here. The items sold include clothing, flower hats, scarves, carved gourds, Uighur musical instruments, ironware, pottery and so on.
There are also a lot of cheap and sweet cantaloupe, big watermelon, kebabs, oil sacs, jar meat, thin-skinned buns, homemade yogurt, etc. When you come to Kashgar, you can eat it full and bulge out.
Walking around, you will come to a shop full of inlays. The Uighurs are really good at all kinds of handicrafts. They can make iron, make ceramics, carve gourds, and make good teeth!
The ancient city of Kashgar hides many inheritors of intangible cultural heritage. Most of the handicrafts displayed in the shops are made by themselves. Although it is for making a living, the things produced are not ambiguous at all, which is a quality consciously formed by the craftsman. If you have seen the whole process of their production, you will probably be amazed by their practice makes perfect. They can beat a piece of scrap iron into a perfect finished product. The invincible technique of turning a method into a treasure is always impressive.
Ding Ding Bang Bang, Kantuman Bazaar
Passing by Kantuman Bazaar, Ding Ding Bang Bang is so lively, a street is open and the door is open to make their own handicrafts generously, which has not stopped since hundreds of years ago.
Kantuman Bazaar, this is the iron market in the old city of Kashgar, "Bazaar" means "market", "Kantuman" refers to the original tools used by farmers to organize the land, and Kantuman Bazaar is ironware It is famous and has developed into a variety of iron tools, including iron rings on doors to various iron tools used on farmland.
Look at the hammer in the hand of the craftsman, it clangs, the simple weapon can become a sharp edge in his hands, and the rough scrap iron can be polished into exquisite ironware. Even if you pass by, you will stop unconsciously and be caught Attracted by their serious attitude.
The model of the store in front and the factory in the back directly presents to outsiders the hundreds of years of Uyghur ironware processing process. Whenever you see attractive handicrafts and the sound of constant knocking, you know that these people are serious and cute. It is rare that these winding streets hide such people who know the aura of iron art in the market, and present the essence of history and craftsmanship on a piece of iron in a low-key way.
Ancient handicraft, inheriting other people's handmade clay pottery
There are thousands of ways to get to know Kashgar, but sometimes you don’t know how to do it. As the poet Zhou Tao said: “You can see through the internal organs of Urumqi at a glance, but you can never see through Kashgar’s misty eyes.” I have been to Kashgar once I don't dare to easily say that I understand it well.
But there is no need to burden yourself, just explore as you like, or you can be a happy elf, snap a few photos with the ancient city, and stamp its charm.
If you are a girl, visiting the flowerpot bazaar and pottery bazaar will be more interesting than going to Iron Street. Who doesn’t love beautiful items? Turson Nestan’s wood, clay and pottery manufacturing department is located in the corner of the residence , which is an inheritor of Kashgar’s intangible cultural heritage. It mainly produces handicrafts such as bricks, bowls, tombstones, and kettles on the gate tower of the mosque.
Pure handicrafts require a lot of time and thought, and if you don’t have a serious attitude, you can’t do it well or for a long time. Along the way, you can see that they enjoy this kind of effort very much, and they have light in their eyes when they look at their own works. Looking at the young craftsman with his legs up, he also enjoyed this quiet time of making.
Handmade clay pottery has a long history in Kashgar. It has been handed down from ancient times to the present. Kashgar's clay pottery has an ancient and unique ethnic style. Here you can see a lot of clay pottery products placed outside. They have different shapes, Large and small, high and low or flat and round, the colors are mainly primary colors and glaze colors, and almost every piece is very beautiful.
The newly produced pottery will be exposed to the sun to dry first, and then it can be sold after a while. Here are all finished products with clearly marked prices. If you like it, you can take it home as a decoration or as a daily tool. It is a practical bowl, saucer, jar, jug and other works. As a tourist, you can also watch it generously, take a few photos as a souvenir, and record the most beautiful light spot image on the clay pottery when the sun shines on it.
In Kashgar, we often see a cute big kettle on the roadside, at the door of the house or next to the shop. People who don’t know it will think it’s an ornament. In fact, its real meaning is for customers to wash their hands. If you When you are a guest at a Uighur home, the host will use this teapot to pour water for you to wash your hands, which is a local custom. The large kettle like the picture below is probably an ornament, and the exaggeration gives a vivid impression.
Enjoy a cup of tea in a century-old teahouse
When I came to Kashgar, one of my favorite things was to drink tea in the tea house and listen to the gossip of the local people. You can drink tea for a few dollars all day. It is really a good place to spend time doing nothing. The century-old teahouse is located 50 meters west of the intersection of Boyi Road and Caibaza Road in Wusitang. A scene in the movie "The Kite Runner" was shot here.
In fact, the Uighurs in the ancient city of Kashgar are obsessed with tea. It is precisely because of these old Uyghurs who like to gather together to drink tea and chat, this century-old teahouse has become more and more charming.
Uighurs drink tea while sitting on the kang, with their legs crossed, with teacups, teapots and bags next to them, and they can sit with the people around them for a whole day. When you walk into an old teahouse, you don’t want to see such a scene. It’s too shocking. They are all lovely and friendly old Uighurs. They will nod and smile at you warmly. If you are interested in tea, you may be able to chat a little. There are many herbal teas here, which are also worth trying.
Drinking tea while playing old musical instruments, the leisurely life in Kashgar made me forget the busy myself.
When many people come to Kashgar, they will eat pigeon meat. A local recommended one to me, and after searching for an hour, I found it.
There are very few dishes in this restaurant, almost all of which are pasta and soup made around pigeons. Ordered a pigeon and pigeon soup, taste is not bad. It's just too much oil.
Bustling, Kashgar Grand Bazaar
No matter where you travel, you can't avoid visiting the local market and buying special products! Traveling through the millennium to the bustling Kashgar Grand Bazaar, the ancient trading method of bartering is still preserved here. It is very interesting to bargain in the crowded crowd and witness the life in the market.
The same is true when you come to Kashgar, and you must not miss the Kashgar Grand Bazaar. The Grand Bazaar is located on the east bank of the Tuman River in the northeast corner of Kashgar City. Its full name is "Central and Western Asia International Trade Market", and it is the largest international trade market in Northwest my country.
The formation of the Grand Bazaar has a history of more than 2,000 years. Due to its unique geographical location, merchants and merchants from neighboring countries gather here. It is an important place for trading items in the Central and Western regions. Zhang Qian once passed the Grand Bazaar when he was on an envoy to the Western Regions. He was very surprised by the heavy traffic. He described it as a bustling place with many shops in the streets. Nowadays, when you go to the Grand Bazaar, you can still see the scene described by Zhang Qian. There are a wide variety of commodities. Not only daily necessities, decorative arts, and dried fruits and vegetables in Kashgar and Xinjiang can be found here, but also Pakistani artworks, Turkish silk, etc. Exotic products such as towels can be found here.
The very attractive commodities lead to a lot of traffic here, especially on Sundays, where you have the opportunity to see the trading scene of cowhide livestock. The affordable price here is also very tempting, and it can usually be sent by express delivery. If you have time, you can experience the fun of visiting the Grand Bazaar by exploring the past from store to store. Seeing is believing, embroidered clothing, dried fruit ingredients, scarves, Uighur musical instruments, wooden ceramic sets, Yingjisha knives, leather goods, flower hats, etc. You can really find the joy of shopping in the market here.
Rich and solemn, the tomb of Xiangfei
My itinerary is this: the ancient city of Kashgar - the Grand Bazaar - the Tomb of the Fragrant Concubine, the whole journey is 4 kilometers and it takes a few minutes by taxi, and the cost is about 10 yuan.
The Xiangfei Tomb is located in Haohan Village, 5 kilometers east of Kashgar City. According to legend, among the descendants of Hoja buried here, there is a woman named Ipal Khan, who is the concubine of Emperor Qianlong. People often call her Xiangfei because of the fragrance of sandy dates.
Legends always give people bizarre fantasies, and endow this ancient Islamic architectural complex with a legendary color. In my eyes, this is an emerald gemstone inlaid in southern Xinjiang with beautiful legends. It is beautiful and mysterious. Come here not only to see the elegant demeanor of Concubine Xiang.
Xiangfei Tomb, originally called Apak Hoja Tomb, was built in 1640. It is the mausoleum of Apak Hoja and 72 people from 5 generations of his family. There are five original building complexes, the gate tower and the Xiangfei tomb. Later, people expanded the Xiangfei Garden in the scenic spot, including the former residence of the Xiangfei, the Huo Family History Museum, and the handicraft exhibition area.
Xiangfei Tomb, this is the most representative and exquisite ancient building, with alternating yellow and blue patterns and green glazed bricks, a touch of bright color is magnificent, solemn and solemn, and one half is embedded in the wall at each of the four corners. Every element of the tower is a typical Islamic style.
How long and a lot of money did it take to create such a beautiful green tile tile at that time? We have never known it, but each piece of exquisite and beautiful glazed bricks is telling its own graphic language through the mottled years. In Islam, the blue is as sacred and pure as the sea, and the blue glass bricks here are covered with patterns. The pattern not only expresses respect for the dead, but also plays a protective role in strengthening the mausoleum.
There are a large number of display areas with gorgeous furnishings, luxurious and exquisite handicrafts and spices worth savoring.
I found a painting with very ethnic style in color and composition.
The closed mosque was once a holy place for Muslims to worship. The Jiaman Mosque in the tomb of Xiangfei is the largest temple complex. "Jiaman" means Friday, that is, whenever it comes to Islamic Friday, believers from all over Kashgar go to this place to hold large-scale worship ceremonies. Praying for happiness in the world through sincere prayers.
Among them, the high-definition mosque and the Jiaman mosque of the Xiangfei Tomb are more luxurious and complicated. The patterns and patterns of the pillars are carved very exquisitely. If you look closely, you will find that there are many and rich patterns and patterns. The vivid and vital stigmas bloom like flowers, symbolizing eternal life. . If you savor carefully here, you will find that there are actually many reasons for coming to the Xiangfei Tomb, either for the legend, or for the exquisite Islamic architectural complex, or to pursue the historical traces of the Islamic religion, etc.
Later, when I arrived at the Tomb of the Concubine Xiang, I found out that there was a wonderful opening performance here. The actors sang and danced, wearing gorgeous costumes to stage dance plots one after another. It is still very worth seeing, the daily performance time is 10:30, 12:00, 18:00, the ticket for Xiangfei Tomb is 30 yuan, and the business hours are 9:30-21:30.
A journey of mountains and rivers, Karakul Lake
I don’t know how beautiful China is if I don’t go to southern Xinjiang. Most people come to southern Xinjiang to see the customs. The customs are in the ancient city of Kashgar, but there are also icebergs and lakes in southern Xinjiang. This is the most primitive natural scenery in Xinjiang. Go all the way You can have a panoramic view of the majestic Muztagh Peak, the sacred Karakul Lake, the magnificent Pamirs, and the incredible Baisha Lake.
Generally, beautiful scenery is often hidden in the deep mountains. Similarly, these scenic spots are more than 200 kilometers away from the ancient city of Kashgar. The traffic is very inconvenient, and you need to apply for a border defense pass to enter. In order to save time and effort, I signed up for a one-day tour for pure fun. The place where I got on the bus was at the People's Square in Kashgar City. It is quite convenient to charter a car back and forth.
The classic route for a day trip: Karakul Lake + Muztagh Iceberg + Pamirs + Baisha Mountain Liusha River. Drive from Kashgar to Karakul Lake, pass Oytak Red Mountain, Pamir Plateau, Baisha Mountain and Liusha River, Muztag Iceberg. This line is a famous tourist route, but because of the long distance, Very few people get here.
How long did it take me to travel from Kashgar to the border between China and Tajikistan? This day, the round trip took 10 hours! But it's really worth it. The scenery along the way is magnificent and open, and the uncanny workmanship of nature is presented one by one. Not only can you see the most beautiful Karakul Lake, the glistening lake surface, but also the Muztag Peak in the distance.
After bumping along the way, the Karakule Lake next to National Highway 314 appeared in front of me like this. The mountain journey is beautiful all the way, and this is the final scenery that people look forward to more. Karakul Lake is a plateau lake located at the foot of Muztagh and Gongger Ice Peaks in Bulunkou Township on the Pamir Plateau of Akto County. The lake covers an area of 10 square kilometers and has a water depth of more than 30 meters. It is a major feature, so it is named "Kalakule Lake", which means "Black Lake".
Karakul Lake is the most amazing lake I have ever seen. Its water quality is deep and dark, like a transparent spar. From a distance, it seems to be shining with deep strange light, which is very beautiful. The water plants around the lake are lush and the scenery is beautiful. There are birds visiting, and there are also legends of water monsters. What is amazing is that in the distance there are continuous icebergs and the famous father of icebergs "Mustagh Peak". The reflection of the white icebergs on the Karakul Lake is like a beautiful girl with icy skin dressing up. The beautiful face in the mirror.
The beauty of mountains and rivers is indeed a major feature of southern Xinjiang. Here, the mountains are like the father and the water is the mother. Both can nourish the natural creatures. To the east of Karakul Lake stands the Muztagh Peak, and the reflection of the ice peak on the lake reflects each other. It is the inspection of the father of the iceberg, which is wonderful and magnificent.
Karakul Lake, the lake water is as clear and bright as a mirror, the water is shimmering and radiant, the blue sky and white clouds are rippling on the lake, the snow peaks are reflected like a sky, and there is also a grassland blessing, as if walking into a fairyland on earth. If there is a cloudy sky, the lake water will change its color abnormally, turning black, and the water waves will flow black and bright. As time goes by, the sky changes and often changes like a dream, and being in it gives people infinite reverie and fun.
Several bungalows and tents were built by the lake, and there were also galloping horses, one person and one horse, across the wide grassland.
Put on the flower hat bought in Kashgar and take a photo with the horses here. The water is clear and the grass is green. If you like it, you can gallop happily. Find the freedom and happiness in the grassland.
Sand Mountain Reflection, Baisha Lake
When arriving at the destination of Karakule Lake, driving along National Highway 314 in the Pamirs will pass the beautiful scenery of "the reflection of the sand mountain", that is, Baisha Mountain and Baisha Lake, located in Kashgar westbound to the Pamirs about 150 meters away. km. The endless journey of mountains and rivers, the beautiful scenery on the way healed the fatigue of running around, and it was really worth it to think that it took a day to come to the fairyland on earth.
Drive all the way, and when you arrive here, you will suddenly see the light. The altitude is about 3400 meters. After getting off the bus, you can see the rolling mountains. The silver mountains are piled up sand mountains. A beautiful curve is drawn beside Baisha Lake, and it is said that the Liusha River in "Journey to the West" is here.
The most beautiful is Baisha Lake. The pure lake surface and deep water quality are like an emerald inlaid on the earth. The green color has no trace of impurities, and it flows into the heart like a stream of blue waves. It is so beautiful.
Compared with Karakul Lake, I think Baisha Lake is more amazing. The beautiful water feels like an oil painting, and the lake is decorated with green grass, which is very beautiful.
All the people who come here are obsessed with it. Standing by the lake and watching Baisha Lake, the deep green and blue are really breathtakingly beautiful. The mountain road is far away, but it is worth seeing such a beautiful scenery.
Little tips:
When you come to the Pamirs, you usually have to drive, charter a car or report to a group. To go to Ta County, you need to apply for a border defense certificate in advance. There is a restaurant at the Hongshan Post Office on the way. You can take a break and order food. The price of the plateau is high.
From Kashgar to Karakule Lake, it belongs to plateau tourism. Starting from Baisha Lake, the altitude will be about 3000 meters. Friends with altitude sickness need to take precautions. The wind and sand here are very strong and the temperature is low. Prepare a jacket, hat, scarf and sunglasses. In the ancient city of Kashgar, the temperature is relatively hot, just pay attention to sun protection and moisturizing.
That's it for the three-day tour in southern Xinjiang. The ancient city of Kashgar is easier to visit, so I arranged for two days. It is a good place to shoot people and cultural customs. On the last day, you can sign up for a group tour to Karakul Lake, which is convenient and can get the essence of it. The scenic spots are still worth considering.
There are thousands of reasons to like southern Xinjiang. Apart from the pure natural scenery, what I want to go back most is the ancient city of Kashgar, which is always sunny, always full of enthusiasm, and forever quiet and beautiful. See you next time if you have a chance.
