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喀什North-West China39.47° N · 75.99° E
An ancient oasis city at China's far western edge, where Silk Road routes once met and the Karakoram Highway climbs towards the Pamirs. Here is what to see in the Old City, how to plan the drive to Karakul Lake and what to expect from altitude and checkpoints.
Kashgar lies on the western rim of the Tarim Basin, where the northern and southern Silk Road routes around the Taklamakan Desert met before heading over the mountains to Central Asia. For many centuries it was a trading city of caravans and bazaars, and that heritage still shapes daily life. Most people here are Uyghur, and the city's food, music, crafts and architecture feel quite different from eastern China.
The Old City is the heart of a visit: a maze of restored mud-brick lanes, carved doorways, workshops and tea houses around the Id Kah Mosque. Beyond town, the Karakoram Highway runs south into the Pamirs, past the Gez River canyon and the pale waters of Baisha Lake to Karakul Lake, which sits at around 3,600 metres beneath the snow-capped massif of Muztagh Ata.
Kashgar is a long way from anywhere, so we suggest three or four nights to make the journey worthwhile. Allow at least one full day for the Karakoram Highway, more if you would like to stay overnight in the mountains or continue towards Tashkurgan. Keep a morning free for the Sunday livestock market if your dates allow, and an evening for the food streets around the Old City, when the heat fades and families come out to eat, shop and stroll.
Our Kashgar journeys are private and tailor-made, often combining the Old City with the Karakoram Highway and the rest of Xinjiang.
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The drive from Kashgar to Karakul Lake is one of the great road journeys in China. How far you go depends on your time and how you feel at altitude.
A long but rewarding day: about 3.5 to 4 hours each way, with stops at the Gez River canyon and Baisha Lake. Back in Kashgar for dinner.
Simple local lodgings near the lake let you see Muztagh Ata at sunset and sunrise, when the light is best. Facilities are basic and nights are cold.
The road continues to the Tajik town of Tashkurgan and its old stone fort. This needs a border area permit and an extra one or two days.
The experiences our travellers enjoy most, in order of what we would not miss.
A large quarter of restored lanes, courtyard houses and craft workshops. Wander with a local guide to find coppersmiths, instrument makers and hat makers, and stop for tea in a traditional house.
Kashgar's great mosque, founded in the 15th century, with a yellow-tiled gateway facing a broad square. Visitors are usually welcome outside prayer times; dress modestly and cover shoulders and knees.
A high mountain lake on the Karakoram Highway, framed by Muztagh Ata and Kongur. Walk along the shore and watch the colours shift as clouds move across the peaks.
On the way to Karakul, the road follows a dramatic red-rock canyon before opening out by Baisha Lake, backed by pale sand mountains.
On Sundays, farmers from the surrounding villages gather to trade sheep, cattle, horses and donkeys on the edge of town. Busy, noisy and full of life; go in the morning.
A 17th-century family tomb with a green-tiled dome, set in gardens on the outskirts of the city. Linked in legend to the Fragrant Concubine of the Qing court.
Explore the big covered bazaar for spices, dried fruit, nuts, carpets and fabric, then follow the smell of clay-oven bread and grilled lamb into the food streets.
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Customise My TripLocal specialities worth seeking out, and when the locals eat them. Your guide will know the best places to try each one.
Add a food experience →Most travellers fly to Kashgar via Urumqi, about 2 hours away by air, though some direct flights link it with other Chinese cities. Allow extra time at the airport for security checks.
The best way to explore the Old City and the bazaars, ideally with a local guide.
Best for: Old City lanesNeeded for the Karakoram Highway, the livestock market and sights on the edge of town; included on our journeys.
Best for: Day tripsTaxis and DiDi are useful for short trips around the city.
Best for: Short hopsPlaces that pair well with Kashgar, with approximate travel times.
Spring, from April to May, and autumn, from September to October, bring mild days in the city and clear mountain views. Summer is hot in Kashgar but the best time for the high Pamirs. Winter is cold, and the Karakoram Highway can be affected by snow.
A general guide. Weather varies from year to year, and we plan each route around the season.
Quick answers from our local team. Anything else, just ask your travel specialist.
Ask us on WhatsAppYes, for travellers interested in Silk Road history, Uyghur culture and high mountain scenery. The Old City, the bazaars and the drive to Karakul Lake are memorable. It is remote, with frequent security checks, so it suits those who are happy to travel a long way and take things at a relaxed pace.
By road along the Karakoram Highway, about 190 km and roughly 3.5 to 4 hours each way, depending on checkpoints and stops. Most travellers go as a long day trip with a private car and guide, while others stay a night near the lake to see the mountains at sunrise.
Karakul Lake can usually be visited with your passport and Chinese visa, though there are checkpoints on the way. Going further south to Tashkurgan or towards the Khunjerab Pass needs a border area permit, which must be arranged in advance. Rules can change, so we confirm them before you travel.
Officially all of China uses Beijing time, but in Xinjiang many people also follow local Xinjiang time, two hours behind. Days start and end late: it is often light until late evening in summer. Always check which time is meant for meals, opening hours and transport.
The livestock market takes place on Sundays on the edge of the city, and is busiest in the morning. The main covered bazaar is open every day. If your dates allow, plan your Kashgar stay to include a Sunday.
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