During my trip through the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in 2005, one of the best experiences was roaming around the historical old towns that are home to Uyghurs. The traditional mud-and-straw buildings that line the narrow alleyways feature typical Uyghur architecture and design. There are mud-brick walls with geometric patterns, old wooden doors with beautiful carvings, and local mosques with bright Islamic blue, green, and yellow tiles.
In the old towns, you’ll get a good glimpse into the everyday life of the Uyghurs. Children playing on the streets, a man riding a donkey, the heavenly smell of baking bread from the local bakery, groups of men socializing quietly in front of the mosque – theyse are all typical everyday scenes.
The historic old towns in Kashgar and Yarkant are especially fascinating. You could easily spend a whole day strolling through the narrow, quiet, and peaceful lanes.
Here are some snapshots from the old towns in Kashgar, Yarkant, Turpan and Kucha.
Back street
The scorching sunshine creates a beautiful contrast between the mud-walls, shadows, and greenery.
In some areas, the alleyways snake around in a chaotic pattern of directions. It was like walking in a maze.
Every house has different colorful carving on the wooden doors.
The corner with the local bakery was filled with a heavenly smell.
The local mosque displays the traditional style of architecture that combines Islamic and Uyghur influences.
Adhan, the Muslim call to prayer, made by a real voice, reaches far into every corner of the lanes.
Muslim gentlemen socializing in front of the mosque.
The kids were always curious. When they saw me with my rugged camera, they asked me to take their photo and followed me until I’d left their locality.
Once you reach the outskirts of Kashgar, idyllic rural scenery starts to appear. This road lined with poplar trees was a great place to walk. As we passed each other, this gentleman with his donkey and cart offered me a ride.
P.S. I recently learned that many of the old towns in Xinjiang, including Kashgar and Yarkant, have been demolished and replaced with modern buildings, although Uyghur architectural style has been retained to some extent. This means that the streets shown in these photos may no longer be the same. I nevertheless hope that this post at least shows how they looked in the past.
