Next Stop: Kashgar

We woke the next morning in the ancient trade center, Kashgar. The photo above shows the view from our hotel window. On the right side of the photo you can see the twin minarets of the Id Kah Mosque, nestled among the houses and shops at the eastern end of "old town" Kashgar. This area is where the local Uighurs live in traditional mud-and-straw brick homes. The Id Kah Mosque is the largest mosque in China, and it sits on a site that has been the religious center for Kashgari Muslims since the 15th Century.


What separates Kashgar from other cities in China is not just the traditional mud-brick architecture of the homes, and not the madcap bazaar every Sunday, and not the silly statue of Chairman Mao hailing a cab in the city center; it's the open warmth of the people. Uighurs are among the friendliest people we've ever met. They were consistently generous, kind, and exuded a sense of comfort with their place in the universe. It was startling how much we had taken the high-stress and somber demeanor of northeastern China for granted. By escaping to the more remote areas of the west, we were able to immerse ourselves in a lively society of people who are destitute only in terms of modern finance; in terms of family, the laughter of children, good food, and humbling landscapes, they are immeasurably wealthy. And they know it.


Tune in tomorrow as we share with you the chaos of Kashgar's Sunday Bazaar, an event that draws an estimated fifty thousand visitors to Kashgar every week. Don't miss it!