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Kashgar, Xinjiang: Exploring China's Westernmost City

Inside China’s Most Controversial Region (Uyghur Autonomous Region) 🇨🇳

Destination:ChinaProvince:XinjiangCity:Kashgar
Inside China’s Most Controversial Region (Uyghur Autonomous Region) 🇨🇳
Ken Abroad51 min

Inside China’s Most Controversial Region. This was filmed by Ken Abroad. Watch the full journey and explore the filming details and destinations on this page.

Kashgar, Xinjiang, Uyghur Autonomous Region - China's most controversial area. Kashgar, Xinjiang China - I traveled to the far west of China to visit the Uyghur Autonomous Region. This region is often all over western media for not so good reasons. But as usual, I am curious to see things with my own eyes. I took a flight to Kashgar, sometimes also called Kashi, which is the most western city in all of China, very fast west in China's Xinjiang province. Here, 85% of the ~800.000 people are Uyghur Muslim people. Xinjiang is also the biggest province in China and some people even believe that Westerners are not allowed to enter this region. Well, that's completely wrong. Join me as we explore around to get to know this region of China, meet local Ughyur Muslims, try local food and see what Kashgar, China is really like!

--- Ken Abroad
December 8, 2024, Winter in China

Travel Guides & Tips in this video

Ken Abroad visits Kashgar in Xinjiang's Uyghur Autonomous Region, beginning in the city center and trying to enter Id Kah Mosque. Prayer times delay his visit, so he explores the markets, shops for gloves and a hat, and walks through the ancient Old Town. He samples local street food, including meat-filled pastries and pomegranate juice, and later spends time beyond tourist areas in a local neighborhood and People's Park. His route includes a barbershop visit and reflections on safety, surveillance and how his experiences compare with media portrayals. The trip shows the blend of East and West that Ken notices in this historic trading city.

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Inside China’s Most Controversial Region (Uyghur Autonomous Region) 🇨🇳

Kashgar city center and Id Kah Mosque

Ken Abroad visits Kashgar in Xinjiang, China, a region he describes as controversial in Western media. He starts near the city center and heads to Id Kah Mosque, one of China's largest. Entry is not immediate: staff tell him to return later because of prayer times. He adjusts the plan and explores local markets, where he shops for gloves and a hat and tries out bargaining. Weather can vary in the area, so he advises checking the forecast and preparing for mountain conditions.

The ancient Old Town offers architecture and streets associated with the Silk Road era. Ken walks through the area and samples Uyghur cuisine at food stalls and markets. Meat-filled pastries are a regional specialty, and he also tries pomegranate juice. He learns a few Uyghur phrases and appreciates the blend of Uyghur and Chinese influences he encounters.

Beyond the tourist streets

Ken visits a local barbershop for a detailed haircut and wash, then looks for a dish he remembers from an earlier trip. The search takes him into areas beyond the main tourist route, including a large underground mall and a local neighborhood. At People's Park, people dance and enjoy music in a public space. These scenes give him a view of daily interactions beyond the market and mosque.

The visit includes conversations about cleanliness, safety and security cameras. Ken says the cameras prompt discussion, and he compares his own experience with narratives he has heard elsewhere. At the mosque, prayer schedules shape visitor access; in the markets and neighborhood, he sees ordinary shopping and social life. His conclusions reflect his own trip and encourage respectful observation and dialogue. The route includes a religious site, Old Town, food markets, a barbershop and a park, all of which contribute to his personal account of Kashgar.

Food and everyday encounters

Ken spends time at local food markets and street stalls, where he tries meat-filled pastries and drinks pomegranate juice. He interacts with vendors and learns a few Uyghur phrases. The food stops are part of his attempt to experience the city beyond the main visitor route. He also visits a local barbershop for a detailed cut and wash, talks with the barber, and searches for a dish he remembers from an earlier visit. A large underground mall and People's Park extend his route into public and neighborhood spaces.

At the mosque, prayer times affect when visitors can enter certain areas. Ken observes security cameras and cleanliness around the city, then discusses how those details shape his own impressions of safety and surveillance. He compares what he sees with negative media coverage but frames his conclusions as a personal experience. His tips emphasize checking site access, respecting customs and allowing time for changes to the plan.

The final chapter includes a discussion of a Mao statue.

FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)

Q: What is Id Kah Mosque like to visit?
A: Ken visits the mosque but is first asked to return later because of prayer times. He describes it as one of China's largest mosques.
Q: What local food does Ken try?
A: He samples Uyghur cuisine, including meat-filled pastries and pomegranate juice, while visiting markets and street stalls.
Q: What did Ken do beyond the tourist areas?
A: He visits a local barbershop, looks for a dish he remembers, explores a neighborhood and ends at People's Park, where people are dancing and listening to music.

Previous travel video:

Kashgar, Xinjiang: Exploring China's Westernmost City

Kashgar, Xinjiang, Uyghur Autonomous Region - China's most controversial area Kashgar, Xinjiang China - I traveled to the far west of China to visit the Uyghur Autonomous Region. This region is often all over western media for not so good reasons. But as usual, I am curious to see things with my own...

Kashgar Xinjiang Travel Vlog: Exploring Ancient City & Culture

Ken Abroad journeyed to Xinjiang's Kashgar, a city often portrayed negatively in Western media. Intrigued, he explored this westernmost Chinese city, home to a predominantly Uyghur Muslim population. He aimed to experience the culture firsthand, meet locals, sample the cuisine, and witness daily life, dispelling misconceptions about the region's accessibility to Westerners. His visit provided a personal perspective on this unique part of China.

Attractions in this video: Id Kah Mosque, Kashgar Old Town, People's Park