Introducing Yarkand
Yarkand (Shāchē), Samarkand, Kashgar – put this town on the list of those beckoning to bygone Silk Road days. At the end of a major trade route from British India, over the Karakoram Pass from Leh, Yarkand was for centuries an important caravan town and centre for Hindu tradesmen and moneylenders. Today it’s important because a branch road leads north to Aksu.
Advertisement
The town is known for the dead. Tombs honouring royalty are the primary draw; the most famous of which is the tomb of Ammanisahan, a Uighur queen and musician famed for her work collecting the Uighur muqam.
Sights otherwise really means the alleys of the intriguing old quarter, where craftsmen still work their wares – noisily and sweatily –with ball-peen hammers and grindstones.
Last updated: Jun 3, 2009
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
-
RE: Kashgar in October
by leela3000 11 September 2011
I'd also suggest spending one market day in Kashgar and one in Hotan. I also second the advice to call at Yarkand on the way. I loved…
-
RE: Kashgar in October
by kashgarguidecom 10 September 2011
as others suggested above, i also suggest you to split some of your time to Hotan rather than spending 9 days in Kashgar, because Hotan…
-
Xinjiang Itinerary
by sayah 29 August 2011
I have a total of 14days to spend in China and I would love to see the Great Wall in Beijing as well, however I want to spend most of…
In our shop
Bags feeling light?
Coffee table looking bare?
Get your guidebooks, travel goods, even individual chapters, right here.
Advertisement
