Know Before You Go
• Keep your passport on you constantly. It might be needed to buy entrance tickets.
• Add us on WeChat (+86-18309280878) or WhatsApp (+86-18309280878) to reach GGC service staff at anytime.
• Pick-up time, guide's name & contact information will be confirmed by WhatsApp, WeChat or email.
• Your guide will hold GoGrandChina welcome sign with your name, waiting at the appointed meeting place.
• Meals are not included; please feel free to ask your guide for recommendations.
• Please note that if you book accommodation on Airbnb, you may not be picked up and dropped off at the door.
• We provide up to 20 minutes of waiting. If you don’t show up and cannot be contacted, this tour will be cancelled and you will receive no refund.
• Kashgar Grand Bazaar is open every day but really kicks it up a gear on Sunday. Plan your traveling date in Kashgar on Sunday if you want to experience the bustling Grand Bazaar at its busiest with animal market open.
Hotel Pick-up & Transfer to Abakh Khoja Mausoleum
Your private guide will be holding GoGrandChina pick-up sign and waiting for you in your hotel lobby (or other appointed meeting place) at the appointed time. You will be transferred to Abakh Khojia Mausoleum.
Visit Abakh Khoja Mausoleum (45 minutes)
Located about five kilometers outside of Kashgar, the Abakh Khoja Mausoleum is the mausoleum complex of the Khoja family, who ruled this area of Xinjiang, including Khotan, Yarkand, Aksu, Kutcha and Tarim, from the seventeenth to mid-eighteenth century during the Qing Dynasty. The Abakh Khoja mausoleum is also known as the Tomb of the Fragrant Concubine in honour of a consort of Emperor Qianlong. Named Iparhan, the Fragrant Concubine was born in Kashgar, and allegedly returned to this mausoleum from Beijing to be buried after her death. Originally built in 1640 by Abakh Khoja, who later built himself a mausoleum at the site along with the next five generations of the Abakh Khoja lineage, the mausoleum complex consists of the gate tower, a great and a small mosque, a scripture hall, and the tomb chamber. The tallest point of the building is the top of the central dome, which is 55 feet (17 meters) high. At each of the four corners of the main building is a minaret. The main building and the four minarets are decorated with colorful tiles that acquire hues according to the light. The tom complex is the largest Islamic complex in Xinjiang and is one of the most sacred ones for the Uyghurs of Xinjiang.
Stroll along Kashgar Old Town (1 hour)
The Old Town is the soul of Kashgar, it is "the best-preserved example of a traditional Islamic city to be found anywhere in Central Asia". Filmgoers may recognize it from The Kite Runner, where it doubles as Kabul. Houses here range in age from 50 to 500 years old and the lanes twist haphazardly through neighborhoods where Kashgaris have lived and worked for centuries. Traditional houses in Kashgar, rarely more than two storeys high, are built with poplar timber and mud bricks. Walls are very thick but usually unadorned on the outside. The inner courtyards and balconies, however, are decorated with woodcarvings and hangings. To walk through the narrow lanes of the old city is to walk into living history. Around 220,000 Uyghurs live in this mud-brick labyrinth. Amid these tiny alleys, you are walking straight into people's lives. Craftswomen stitch doppas, the traditional four-cornered hats. Crop-haired girls in bright frocks and mismatching plastic sandals giggle and shove as they see strangers; then sing and dance for their audience. It’s a great place for strolling, peeking through gates, chatting to the locals and admiring the craftspeople as they bang on tin and chase copper.
Lunch at Your Own Expense
Please feel free to ask your guide for suggestions and recommendations.
Visit Idkah Mosque (1 hour)
Built in 1442, the IdKah Mosque is an iconic part of Kashgar and the entire Xinjiang region. The mosque takes its name from the Persian word Eidgāh, meaning place of festivities. Covers an area of 16,800 sq. meters, the Idkah Mosque is the largest mosque by land area in China. The original mosque was built during the golden age of Kashgar, when it was one of the capitals of the Kara-Khanid Khanate between the 10th and 13th centuries. The mosque was destroyed when Kashgar was sacked by the famed Turco-Mongol conqueror Amir Timur (Tamerlane) in the 14th century. It was expanded in 1538 and then restored and renovated several times in the 18th and 19th century. The entry arch of the mosque is of Central Asian style. The main arch sits between two tall minarets, one directly next to it and one spaced apart by two false arches. The minarets, topped with crescent moons are decorated with bands of blue and green tiles that highlight the yellow ones. Everyday, there will about 2000 and 3000 Uyghurs performing Salat prayer at this mosque. 6000 or more Uyghurs will come for the Jumah prayer every Friday. During Eid al-Fitr, over 40,000 Uyghurs travel long distances from all over Xinjiang to Idkah Mosque for the celebration of Eid al-Fitr festival.
Wander along Kashgar Handicraft Street (1 hour)
The handicraft street is located within the 'rebuilt' old town of Kashgar, right next to the IdKah Mosque and the Kashgar central square. Shops spill out onto the street and everyone is busily engaged in their craft. Shop fronts are structurally intricate wonders themselves. Carpenters, the smithy and the metal workers are all working away in tiny workshops. Here at the handicraft street, you will find ceramics, woodcarving, metalworking, traditional musical instruments, textiles, carpets, foodstuffs, etc. Wander the streets and soak up the history of Kashgar as you wander around. Go with an appetite as the street food will tempt you to buy. The One Hundred Year Teahouse located on the second story of an old building is worth a visit. Locals play traditional music and sing and dance spontaneously on the balcony.
Experience Kashgar Grand Bazaar (2 hours)
With a history of more than 2,000 years, Kashgar Grand Bazaar was well-known as the "biggest market in Asia" in ancient times. The full name of Kashgar Grand Bazaar is Central and West Asia International Trading Market and it is now the largest market for farm produce in Xinjiang. Occupying a total area of 41 acres and offering 21 specialized markets, Kashgar Grand Bazaar has more than 4,000 fixed booths and one food street, offering more than 9,000 kinds of commodities in rich varieties. Annual trading volume at the bazaar hits about CNY125 million. Every Sunday, the bazaar is very busy with a constant stream of vehicles and people and sometimes, customers at the bazaar can reach more than 100,000. Join the crowds at the Grand Bazaar and experience the city’s enduring mercantile heritage. Vendors and goods from all over the region and beyond convene at the bazaar. There are dried fruits from Saudi Arabia, handicrafts from Pakistan, scarves from Turkey, and much more. The bazaar is open seven days a week, but Sunday is the busiest day because certain goods are only there on Sunday, such as livestocks where sheeps, cows, donkeys, and even camels are available to buy.
Transfer Back to Your Hotel
Your guide and driver will transfer you back to your hotel.
