Kashgar Old City: A Respectful Walking Guide
Plan a walk through Kashgar Old City: traditional lanes, craft and bazaar streets, courtyards, heritage rules and respectful visiting tips.
Photo: Rowan S / Pexels
Contents
Kashgar Old City is a historic quarter shaped by Silk Road trade and by daily life in its lanes. Kashgar sits at a crossroads of Eurasia that traders crossed for more than 2,000 years.[1] Walk it as a craft-and-bazaar stroll, or slowly, through lanes and courtyards. The old city became a national 5A tourist attraction in 2015.[2] It is a living neighborhood too, so ask before you photograph and keep to the public lanes.
Choose the kind of walk you want
| Main interest | What to look for | Planning choice |
|---|---|---|
| Craft and bazaar streets | Flower-pot, blacksmith, hat and handicraft bazaars, Khan Bazaar Culture Street, Old City Impression Street and the Jiulongquan commercial street[1] | Choose the trades that interest you and wander between them; shops and workshops open at their own hours. |
| Lanes and architecture | Traditional street layouts, courtyards, houses, workshops and shops, with rebuilt facades kept to the original style, scale, colour and height[3] | Take a slower loop and look at doorways, walls and the way shops meet residential streets. |
For a craft walk, head for the streets named for their trades: the flower-pot, blacksmith, hat and handicraft bazaars. Listen for the tapping from the workshops, and stop where a trade catches your eye. Khan Bazaar Culture Street, Old City Impression Street and the Jiulongquan commercial street are planned streets lined with shops, decorated with colorful lights and red lanterns.[1]
For the urban fabric, take a slower loop through lanes and courtyards. Protected here are the old city's overall historic appearance and traditional layout, with its traditional streets, courtyards, houses, workshops and shops. Repairs follow the "restore the old as the old" principle, keeping the original building style, scale, colour and height. Protected sites carry signs.[3] For a view over the whole quarter, climb to the Geng Gong Temple, from where the lanes and homes spread out below.[1]
Things to Do
Offers are only loaded from GetYourGuide after you click. GetYourGuide can then process your IP address and set cookies. Privacy Policy
GetYourGuide partner offers. GoAsia may earn a commission if you book through these offers. Check whether tickets or transfers are included, and follow the attraction's official booking and admission rules.
Leave room for an unhurried pause
Craft workshops and century-old tea houses sit beside newer cafes in the old city.[1] Stop for tea or a meal in the middle of the walk. Ask before photographing residents, workers or private courtyards. Everyday work and home life are not a performance.
What to know before you go
Vehicle traffic is restricted inside the protected area, so plan to walk or use the local transport arranged for visitors. The management encourages limited numbers, reservations and off-peak visits at the old city. Paid performances need official approval and run under the supervision of the old-city management.[3] At homes, workshops and active places of worship, follow posted instructions and ask before you enter.
For broader trip planning, continue with our China travel guide.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region People’s Government website hosting a Tianshan Net / Xinjiang Daily feature: 龙年春晚新疆喀什分会场｜千年古城焕新颜. Retrieved October 26, 2026.
- [2] Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Department of Culture and Tourism website; page source field names the Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area Management Committee: 喀什古城已成为民族团结的大家庭. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- [3] Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Department of Culture and Tourism, policy and regulations office; official text of the regional regulation: 新疆维吾尔自治区喀什古城保护条例. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Walk at an easy pace and choose one or two interests, such as the craft and bazaar streets or the lanes and courtyards.
Look for the flower-pot, blacksmith, hat and handicraft bazaars, plus Khan Bazaar Culture Street, Old City Impression Street and the Jiulongquan commercial street.
Both. It is a protected historic quarter and people live and work in it. Residential lanes are lived-in places, and private interiors are not open to visitors by default.
Ask the resident, shopkeeper or host before entering, and follow posted instructions.
Ask people before photographing them, especially inside homes, workshops or places of worship. Respect a refusal and avoid interrupting work.
Vehicle traffic is restricted in the protected area, so plan to walk.
Check the opening hours of the places you want to see, any entrance charge, and the access rules for religious sites and interiors.
