Kashgar
 Kashgar
(Kashi) is situated in the southwest of
Xinjiang. From the west, this is the first
point of arrival on land routes from Pakistan
and Kirgyzistan. Long a vital stop on the
Silk Road, this remote city some 4,000 km
from Beijing, used to take up to six months
to reach from the capital! This all changed
in the 1930s when Kashgar became a crucial
meeting point for three empires- the Chinese,
the British and the Soviet Union. A haven
for spies and housing some fabulous consulate
buildings, this city was used as a bastion
by the Brits looking west towards India,
and the Soviets, thought to be plotting
to absorb Xinjiang. In 1935, the city was
effectively run by the Soviets until WWII
when it came back under Chinese control.
 Today,
despite modernization and architectural
decline, the city manages to meet most visitors
expectations. The most striking thing about
Kashgar is the Turkestan influence visible
on the streets and in the homes here. This
place feels, looks and even smells dramatically
different from the rest of China, more so
than any other city in Xinjiang. And this
is no great surprise really, considering
that 90% of the population are practicing
Muslims and Uigur bazaars, tea houses and
faces dominate the streets. What's more,
this is the only city in Central Asia where
the women choose to veil their faces. The
old streets, restaurants and markets here
are great for exploring. The city is particularly
busy between May and October---jam packed
with merchants and traders hot-off the Karakoram
Highway from Pakistan and Kirgyistan.
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