Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region - Kashgar (Kashi) Prefecture 喀什地区

The Tianshan Mountains cut Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in two—the southern territory and the northern territory. Kashgar is located at the most western edge of the southern part. It is small, but richly exotic, and has kept its strong local flavour despite the passing of time. Tourists to Xinjiang are often advised not to miss Kashgar, for it is said: “You have not been to Xinjiang unless you have been to Kashgar.” Everything there is attractive to outsiders—the bustling free market, the mosques, the families to and fro in their donkey carts, the men and women in their colourful embroidered caps. The streets and alleyways of Kashgar are alive with a blend of Eastern and nomadic cultures; tall, hooked-nosed men with high cheekbones and long beards, prayer caps, turbans and Cossack-style fur hats; some women’s faces are covered by thick brown shawls.

As early as 2,000 years ago, Kashgar, covering an area of 138,744 square kilometers was an important stopover on the northern Silk Road. Seventeen ethnic minorities inhabit Kashgar. Of the total population of 3.34 million, more than 92 per cent are Uygurs, Islam, the dominant region of Kashgar, is widespread with more than 9,000 mosques, big and small. The oldest mosques were built 500 years ago. In recent years, about 200 Muslims, supported by the local government, have been to countries in the Middle East to take part in religious activities.

Southern Xinjiang Railway 南疆铁路

The 1,446-kilometer-long South Xinjiang Railroad in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region officially opened on December 6, 1999, allowing this region to trade more easily with the world. The tracks run from Kashi (Kashgar) to Turpan. The first section of the railway, a 476.49-kilometer stretch from Turpan to Korla, was completed in 1984. Construction of the Korla-Kashi section started in September 1996. The railway’s completion has help Southern Xinjiang do business with the rest of the country and its neighbours. The area has a lot of business possibilities as a major agricultural and stockbreeding area. It encompasses 1.06 million square kilometers and has a population of 7.66 million. The Tarim Oil Field in this region has an annual production capacity of 4 million tons of crude oil. Its proven reserve of oil and gas is estimated at 19.1 billion tons.

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