Stand on the square in front of the Id Kah Mosque in the late afternoon, when the yellow walls hold the last of the light, and you are standing at a crossroads that has been worked by travellers for over two thousand years. Kashgar sits in the Tarim Basin in southern Xinjiang, near China's border with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and it has been an oasis on the Silk Road linking China with Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe for over two millennia.
This is a city for travellers who care more about living trade, architecture and landscape than about polish. The old town has been rebuilt with wider streets and modern amenities, so the texture you find here is a mix of the restored and the ruined, the working and the staged. The surrounding country is the real draw: desert, lakes and mountain road.
This guide covers the sights and experiences within reach of the city, plus a one-day plan that strings the best of them together. It assumes you have at least a full day, and preferably two.
Top things to do in Kashgar
1. Id Kah Mosque
First built in 1442, the Id Kah Mosque is distinctive for its yellow walls and Central Asian architecture, and it anchors the centre of the city. It is open 08:50-22:00, though it closes during prayer times. As at any place of worship, dress modestly: legs and shoulders covered, and women should wear a hijab. Remove your shoes before entering the carpeted area.
Time your visit for Eid if you can, when local Uyghurs dance on the square in front of the mosque. Entrance is ¥20.
2. Mal Bazaar
This is the livestock market where locals from surrounding villages come to town to buy and sell animals, held on an open and fenced ground. It is popular with tourists, yet it is so big it still feels like a working bazaar, because it is one. It runs on Sundays.
It moved some years ago and now sits a good 30-minute bus ride north of the city. Take bus 23 from near the international bus station, next to the river, for ¥1, and get off with everyone else. A metered taxi takes around 15 minutes for ¥15-20.
3. Karakoram Highway day trip
Agencies around the Old Town offer day trips to Baisha Lake and Karakul Lake on the Karakoram Highway, either by tour group or by private car and driver. The road itself is the experience, and the two lakes are the stops.
In April 2025, a private SUV and Chinese-speaking driver cost 1,000 RMB with entrance tickets to both lakes included. Before setting off, get the free permit for this area from the office just north of the airport.
4. Old Town
The old town once had warren-like niches and winding streets, home to friendly and occasionally guarded residents and improvised architecture. In 2017 the original buildings were torn down and the town was rebuilt with wider streets and modern amenities, and it can come off as a little tacky.
Go in with that expectation and it still works as a base: it is where you will find the tour agencies for the highway trips, and it is the most walkable part of the city.
5. Gaotai Ancient Homes
If you want older buildings, head to the small hill just outside the East Gate, immediately north of Donghu Park. Buildings near the entrance have been converted into cafes and shops, while many at the back stand in ruin and can be seen from an elevated viewing pathway.
Entrance is free. Combine it with a walk in Donghu Park, which sits directly to the south.
6. Tomb of Apak Hoja
A massive, elegant building created in 1640 in typical Islamic style, and also a pilgrimage site. It claims to be the resting place of the legendary "Fragrant Concubine", though the traditional Uyghur tale of her rebellion against the Qing imperial family is omitted from the tomb's accompanying introduction.
It is 3 km from the city centre; take bus number 20 from Renmin Square or a taxi. Opening hours are 08:00-17:30, and prayer day is Friday. Entrance is ¥30.
7. Tomb of Mahmud Kashgari
About an hour's drive from Kashgar in Upal, this is the tomb of an Uyghur scribe famous for compiling a dictionary of the Turkic languages in the 11th century. The picturesque complex sits on a hillside and includes a mosque and a sacred spring.
Upal also has a lively bazaar, so pair the two. Entrance is ¥30.
8. Tomb of Yusup Khass Hajip
The tomb of Kashgar's much loved philosopher and poet, who wrote the 13,290-line poem The Wisdom of Happiness and Pleasure in the Uighur language. A quiet stop for anyone interested in the literary side of the city.
Entrance is ¥30.
9. Mor Buddhist Pagoda
About 40 km northeast of Kashgar city, this pagoda was built in the 7th century during the Tang dynasty and destroyed in the 12th century. Only one pagoda remains, with three square layers each a little smaller than the one below, standing more than twelve metres high. Beside it is a platform that was one of the central temple structures, its side walls once carved with niches housing Buddha figurines; the figures are gone and the niches are barely visible.
It is a place of worship for monks in the city, so treat it as such. The site rewards a slow look rather than a quick photograph.
10. Davakul Lake
Davakul means "curing lake" in Uyghur, and it lies 130 km from Kashgar on the southeast tip of the Taklimakan Desert. It is one of the nearest places to Kashgar for one or more days of camel trekking in the desert.
Entrance is ¥30. This is an overnight or multi-day commitment rather than an afternoon, so plan it as its own excursion.
11. Shipton's Arch trekking
Kashgar Guide tour company runs a one-day trek to Shipton's Arch from 407 Wusitang Boyi Rd. The route goes through steeply walled canyons and over rocky river bed terrain, and the arch itself is 500 metres high and 100 metres wide.
It is a full day on your feet over rough ground, so go with a company rather than alone. Book through the operator.
12. Kashgar Silk Road Expeditions
Based at 144 Seman Road, this tour company offers several types of tours in the area, including mountain treks. Useful if you want to get beyond the day-trip routes and into the mountains.
Ask about trek options when you enquire, since the range of tours varies.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at the Id Kah Mosque when it opens at 08:50, dressed modestly and ready to remove your shoes before the carpeted area. From there, walk the Old Town, which is the most walkable part of the city and where you can also pick up information on the Karakoram Highway trips for another day.
Afternoon. Take bus number 20 from Renmin Square or a taxi 3 km to the Tomb of Apak Hoja, open 08:00-17:30. If you have time afterwards, walk the small hill just outside the East Gate, immediately north of Donghu Park, to see the Gaotai Ancient Homes, where the ruined buildings at the back are visible from an elevated viewing pathway.
Evening. Return to the Id Kah Mosque for the last of the light on the yellow walls, and stay on the square as the day winds down. If your visit falls on a Sunday, swap the afternoon for Mal Bazaar instead, taking bus 23 from near the international bus station next to the river.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best day to visit Mal Bazaar?
It is held on Sundays. Take bus 23 from near the international bus station, next to the river, for ¥1, or a metered taxi for around 15 minutes at ¥15-20.
Do I need a permit for the Karakoram Highway trip?
Yes. Before setting off, get the free permit for this area from the office just north of the airport.
What should I wear at the Id Kah Mosque?
Dress modestly, meaning your legs and shoulders should be covered, and women should wear a hijab. Remove your shoes before entering the carpeted area. The mosque is open 08:50-22:00 but closed during prayer times.
Can I see older buildings than the rebuilt Old Town?
Yes. Go to the small hill just outside the East Gate, immediately north of Donghu Park, where the Gaotai Ancient Homes include buildings in a state of ruin that can be seen from an elevated viewing pathway. Entrance is free.
Decide whether your trip is a city trip or a road trip, check the day of the week against the bazaar, and start planning around the mosque square.