Kashgar Facts

Kashgar has been an important trading center since the days of the Silk Road, and still is today. The road from Eastern and Central China branches out to both the north and south of the Taklamakan Desert, and Kashgar is where the two branches meet again in the western part of the desert. The local population is a mixture of Uyghurs, Han Chinese, Kyrgyz, Tajiks and Uzbeks, boasting a colorful ethnic variety. 

Ancient history records show that as early as the Qin (221-206 BC) and the Han (206 BC-220 AD) dynasties, Kashgar started dealings with the merchants from inner China. In 60 BC, Han established the West Region Protectorate in Xinjiang and Kashgar became a part of China. Until the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Kashgar was the important military and commercial center of Xinjiang. During the Five Dynasties (907-960) and the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Kashgar was under the control of the Qarakhanid Dynasty (a mysterious dynasty of which the founder is still unknown) and the Liao Dynasty (916-1125). During the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) China was unified again and Kashgar was the most important port on the Silk Road until the 15^th century.
 

Kashgar is said to have the largest bazaar in Asia.
 

The Chinese government has recently begun implementing its plan to "make the city earthquake proof" by tearing down the ancient old city and replacing it with tacky Chinese modernity.
 

Area Code:0998

Zip Code: 844000

Area: Kashgar has a total area of 294.21 square kilometers.

 

Geography: Kashgar is located at the west of the Taklamakan Desert at the feet of the Tian Shan mountain range. It borders Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India to its west and southwest respectively. The city of Kashgar, a place of strategic importance in south Xinjiang, has an area of fifteen square kilometers with an average elevation of 1289.5 meters.

 

Population: Kashgar is home to many nationalities. According to 2003 statistics, there are altogether 31 nationalities residing in the Kashgar area, including Uygur, Han, Hui, Tajik, Khalkhas, Uzbek, Kazak, Russ, Mongol, Manchu and Tatar. Most Xinjiang people believe in Islam, which makes a great impact on their daily lives and thoughts.

Administrative Division: There are 11 counties belong to Kashgar.

 

Climate:Kashgar has a temperate continental climate, with large periods of sunshine and little rainfall. There are four distinct seasons in Kashgar. Winter is short and warm. Summer is long and cool. The average yearly temperature is 11.8 degree C. January is the coldest month in Kashgar. The average temperature at that month is -6 degree C, and July, the hottest month with the average temperature of 27 degree C. Therefore, the best time to go to there is between August and September, when the sky is blue and there is blossom and fruit on the trees. The average rainfall here is only 121mm, but the evaporation capacity amounts to 2162 mm, and on average there are 224 days without frost a year here.