Getting Around Kashgar
Kashgar is a compact, walkable oasis city, and most visitors find that the main sights cluster closely enough to cover on foot. For anything beyond the centre, the city offers a mix of public buses, taxis, and ride-hailing, with the railway station and airport connected by bus and shuttle services. The notes below cover the practical options.
On Foot
Walking is the best way to experience Kashgar. Most of the city — including the bus station, the bazaar, the main square, and the downtown area — can be reached on foot within 15–20 minutes of each other, provided you are not carrying large amounts of baggage. The old town and its narrow alleyways are pretty much only explorable on foot, so plan to spend time wandering there.
Two cautions apply. First, cross streets carefully: pedestrian crossings are not generally available. Second, watch for electric motorbikes, which have their own lanes between the car lanes and the pavement and run silently, so you may not hear them coming.
Cycling is an option, but the traffic is somewhat dangerous, so only do this if you are experienced with this kind of traffic environment. Bicycles can be rented at major hotels such as the Qinibagh, typically for less than ¥30 per day.
Rail
Kashgar Railway Station is the city's main railway station, located on Renmin East Road. It sits east of the town centre, but the distance is too far to walk. The station is the terminus of the Urumqi–Kashgar line, and the Kashgar–Hotan Railway is also complete and open, with stops including Yarkand and Hotan. Long-distance services connect to destinations such as Korla, Kuqa, Urumqi, and Turpan.
To reach the station from the city, take public bus 28, which connects the city — including Renmin Square, the main square — to the railway station. From the railway station, walk out and turn right and you will probably see a bus waiting there already. The fare is ¥1 and is paid onboard. If you are unsure where you are going, get on bus 28, get off at Renmin Square, and figure things out from there. The Qinibagh and Seman hotels can be reached a couple of stops after Renmin Square on bus 28 and then a short uphill walk of about five minutes; fellow passengers can probably help you, and most people on the street know these places.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Public buses are the cheapest way to cover the longer hops around town. Bus 28 links the city centre and Renmin Square with the railway station, and a public bus (line 2) also serves the airport. Fares are nominal and paid onboard.
The International Bus Station is at 5 Jicheng Road, near the city and walkable from it. It handles longer-distance coach services to regional destinations including Korla, Kuqa, Urumqi, Hotan, Tashkurgan, Yecheng, and Ili, as well as international services toward Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan. Note that some international routes require permits or agency arrangements — for example, travel to Bishkek requires a special permit for foreigners, and most foreigners use a travel agency for that route.
Kashgar does not have a metro or tram network; getting around relies on buses, taxis, ride-hailing, walking, and cycling.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taking a taxi with Didi or simply flagging one down is the easiest method of travelling around Kashgar. Taxis are plentiful and, in contrast with those in neighbouring Pakistan, the vehicles are full of electronics. For trips where you cannot catch a car on the street, you may need to book one, or ask someone to book for you.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Kashgar Airport (KHG) lies north of the town centre. Several options connect it to the city:
- Taxi: A taxi to the city should cost roughly ¥30–100 by meter.
- Shuttle from the International Hotel: Shuttle buses leave from the International Hotel at People's Square for ¥10 per person.
- Airport shuttle bus: The airport has its own shuttle bus that goes from the airport into any location in town — just tell the driver where you are going — for ¥15.
- Public bus (line 2): A public bus runs between the airport and most locations in town for ¥2. To find it, walk straight out of the front entrance of the airport, past the airport gates, and turn left; the line 2 buses wait at the side of the street, about 20 metres to the left.
If you plan to visit Tashkurgan, you will need a Border Area Pass; without one, police will not let you through the checkpoint on the road. The Foreign Affairs Office that issues these is a short taxi ride from the airport, and the procedure itself takes about five minutes at no cost, though the queue may be long. From there to the city centre, a taxi is available, but you cannot catch a car on the street — you have to book one, or ask someone to book for you.
On your first ride out of the airport, expect some striking differences from many other places: very wide streets, big distances, lots of flags and decorations, lots of video cameras and police, car brands that are almost all Chinese, and taxis full of electronics.
Maps
If you prefer a paper map, look in your home country for one made by Reise Know-How or Gizi Map. Even if they do not offer the best China mapping, these maps are useful enough for Kashgar and its surroundings, especially if you are visiting as part of a bigger itinerary such as a Silk Road route connecting to the Karakoram Highway. Locally, good maps of Kashgar can be purchased at the Xinhua Bookstore next to the main square for about ¥5–8, though these are only in Chinese.