Skip to content
  • Epic Quest
  • Contact Me!
  • About Me
Instagram YouTube Facebook
Menu

Writer. Traveler. Tea Drinker.

Writer. Traveler. Tea Drinker. Doing all three in China
Instagram YouTube Facebook
  • Epic Quest
  • Contact Me!
  • About Me
Hit enter to search or esc to close
Home  >  China • Traveling  >  Kashgar (the Far, Far West of China)
Posted inChina Traveling

Kashgar (the Far, Far West of China)

Posted By Becky Ances Posted on September 2, 2015
Please install Travelera Share Buttons plugin

Well, my travels are winding down. I ended my trip in Kashgar, one of the farthest west cities in all of China. Here Han Chinese were few and far between, and most travelers were using this as a gateway to or from Pakistan. Kashgar was amazing. By this point I had a whole band or merry wanders that I was used to and knew well, so everyday was filled with chatting and hanging out. I think I’ll let the pictures tell of my experience.

Artisans line the streets of the old town, banging away on coppers and metals making their wares.
Artisans line the streets of the old town, banging away on coppers and metals making their wares.
The Mosque was the center of activity in the old town. I didn’t go in, but ti;s surrounded by markets and the square out front was filled with women chatting, kids playing and families having fun. During the hot days it was almost empty, but filled with activities at night.
My favorite place was the 100-year-old traditional tea house. No seats or tables, but rather kang-style platforms you would sit on and drink tea. We ordered “kashgar power tea” (Their translation) which was black tea with some chai-like seasonings. I spent many a afternoon here.
The teahouse, not a tourist place, but more a place for locals, had instruments hanging on the wall. We had the incredible luck to be there at the same time as a group of men who sat and played for hours. They sang, chanted, and played the many unique local instruments (of which I never learned the names). I felt very lucky to be there at that time.
One more of the teahouse, cause it was so damn cool
Shave and a haircut, two bits!
Shave and a haircut, two bits!
Couldn't stop laughing at this sign.
Couldn’t stop laughing at this sign.
The air was clean and the sunsets gorgeous.

I’ll admit I didn’t do much in Kashgar, and maybe I’ll regret it in the future. I was supposed to join a car of people going to Shipton’s arch, the tallest natural arch in the world. It was discovered to the world in the 40’s and then lost for decades until 2000, when a National Geographic expedition finally found the location and made it known to the public (about 60km’s away from the city). But the night before I was up and in the toilet and while I was a bit better come morning I thought a hot car ride, followed by a even hotter hike, was not such a good idea.

But I had such a good time in the city, wandering the meandering maze of the old city street, going to the bazaar and the livestock market, and chatting with fellow travelers, I don’t mind being lazy. (Also, in all honesty, the heat was really getting to me at that point. I was only eating two meals a day, breakfast and dinner–because my body just didn’t have it in me to digest food. It was too busy trying not to overheat. And no place had air conditioning, ensuring I sweated through each and everyday.)

Kashgar was the perfect place for me to end my trip. It was one of the furthest spots in China, and so unlike anything I have seen before. I feel like I went to another country, even though I technically never left the borders of China. Xinjiang doesn’t get as much attention as other parts of China (even though it is the largest part in China) but it is a place of astounding beauty, amazing food, and unique culture. If you get the chance: go, go, GO!

Tags: border city food kashgar Tea tradions Traveling Western China xinjiang
Previous Article The Exotic Bazaars and Markets of Xinjiang
Next Article Poll: Expats in China Don’t Fit in With Locals. But you CAN (and Should) Make Friends.

Related Posts

What’s the Laziest Way up a Mountain? This Way.

As I rode the slick new escalators up the side of the mountain in the Xiamen botanical Gardens, I hated myself a little. Why was I here, supporting the destruction and abuse of this gorgeous natural mountain? I mean, is there anything lazier than taking an escalator up a mountain?

Read More about What’s the Laziest Way up a Mountain? This Way.
Please install Travelera Share Buttons plugin

The Instagrammification of a Beach

You’d think in a country where Instagram was blocked there would be no Instagrammification of places. But then you’d be wrong…very wrong.

Read More about The Instagrammification of a Beach
Please install Travelera Share Buttons plugin

2 Comments

  1. Autumn
    September 9, 2015 at 9:04 am

    I am sad your travels are over. I got to enjoy checking out new places without all the sweating and intestinal distress!
    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  2. Becky
    September 10, 2015 at 10:20 pm

    I’m sad my summer travels are over even with the sweltering and the intestinal distress. Because now I’m still sweltering in Xiamen without all the new excitement of traveling. Only 16 more weeks till I can take off again. 😉

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Recent Posts

  • What’s the Laziest Way up a Mountain? This Way.
  • From Zero Covid to Zero F&#*s
  • The Instagrammification of a Beach
  • The Stuff of Nightmares
  • The (Surprising) Best Chinese Food for a Picnic

Archives

Categories

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Recent Posts

  • What’s the Laziest Way up a Mountain? This Way. Becky Ances January 31, 2023
  • From Zero Covid to Zero F&#*s Becky Ances December 29, 2022
  • The Instagrammification of a Beach Becky Ances November 21, 2022
  • Popular
  • Recent
  • The Swiss Family Robinson are a Bunch of Jerks December 11, 2009
  • Making it Official: My Chinese Boyfriend December 7, 2012
  • Good Chinese Wife Review and a Chance to Win a Free Book!! July 27, 2014
  • 10 Signs You've Lived in China a Long Time March 29, 2014
  • What’s the Laziest Way up a Mountain? This Way. January 31, 2023
  • From Zero Covid to Zero F&#*s December 29, 2022
  • The Instagrammification of a Beach November 21, 2022
  • The Stuff of Nightmares September 12, 2022

Subscribe Now to Our Newsletter, It’s Free!

Get the best content delivered straight into your inbox!

Facebook Twitter Google+

About

I’m an American who has been living in China for more than a decade! This is my blog where I muse about all things China. Please also check out my YouTube channel “Badminton Becky” and my other badminton blog at www.badmintonbecky.com

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • What’s the Laziest Way up a Mountain? This Way. January 31, 2023
  • From Zero Covid to Zero F&#*s December 29, 2022
  • The Instagrammification of a Beach November 21, 2022
© Copyright 2017. Theme by BloomPixel.