Welcome to the beautiful new city of Kashgar

Explore Kashgar for 3 days and 2 nights with a budget of 1300 RMB per person! Visit Kashgar Old Town, the Id Kah Mosque, century-old teahouses, and enjoy roasted buns—a vibrant city in the Western Regions.

This time, I will take you to a city farthest from the mainland but closest to the soul—Kashgar, Xinjiang.
It’s not Dunhuang, but it has ancient earthen walls and alleys that have stood for thousands of years; it doesn’t have the grandeur of the Potala Palace, but it boasts the largest mosque in Xinjiang—the Id Kah Mosque; it’s not by the sea, but tasting freshly baked roasted buns and a bowl of handmade pulled noodles will bring tears of joy to your eyes.
With 3 days and 2 nights, and a budget of 1300 RMB per person, I have designed a high cost-performance itinerary combining culture, local life, and cuisine. Round-trip flights (special fares), bus and walking transfers, shared accommodation—taking you from the ancient town alleys to the bazaar markets, listening to Uyghur elders sing Muqam, and experiencing the true "Western Regions’ everyday life."

📍 Itinerary Overview
Duration: 3 days and 2 nights
Budget: 1300 RMB per person (including round-trip transportation, accommodation, tickets, and meals)
Recommended departure: Urumqi (can connect from anywhere in China).

Itinerary route:
Day 1: Fly from Urumqi to Kashgar → Kashgar Old Town opening ceremony → Stay at a guesthouse near the Old Town.
Day 2: Id Kah Mosque + Gao Tai residential area + century-old teahouse + Kashgar Grand Bazaar.
Day 3: Artisan Bazaar + return to Urumqi.

Arrival in the Western Regions: Step into the lively world of the thousand-year-old ancient city.
Transportation: Urumqi Diwopu Airport → Kashgar Airport (Spring Airlines/China Southern special tickets about 500 RMB, flight time 2 hours 30 minutes). After landing, take the airport shuttle bus or carpool to the East Gate of Kashgar Old Town (fare about 20 RMB).
Afternoon: Kashgar Old Town scenic area (free, ID registration required). The only maze-like old town in China featuring Islamic culture, with a history of over 2000 years.
Highlights: Watch the opening ceremony of the town (daily at 10:30 and 18:00, with drums and music, dancers welcoming guests). Stroll along Wustang Boyi Road, hear the clinking of copper shops, see colorful flower hat stores, check in at Jiulong Spring, Areya Road, and popular alleys (reservations available). Visit a century-old teahouse (tea fee 15 RMB, experience Uyghur elders drinking tea and playing instruments).
Recommended stay: 3 hours, wear comfortable shoes, respect local customs (do not photograph worshippers casually).
Dinner: “Guli’s Home” inside the Old Town, a family restaurant hidden in a residence serving Uyghur home-style dishes! Recommended: hand-pulled rice (28 RMB), roasted buns (3 RMB each), yogurt dumplings, rose tea. Average cost: 50 RMB.
Accommodation: Shared double room in a characteristic guesthouse inside Kashgar Old Town with earthen courtyard and carved wooden windows, experience authentic Uyghur life. Shared room about 130 RMB per person.
Daily expenses: Transportation 520 + meals 50 + accommodation 130 = 700 RMB.

Day 2: Faith and daily life | Step into the daily life of the Uyghurs
Morning: Id Kah Mosque (ticket 15 RMB, women can only view from outside). The largest and most influential mosque in Xinjiang, built in 1442, can accommodate ten thousand worshippers.
Highlights: See the blue-green dome and archway columns, feel the solemnity and tranquility of religion (open for visits outside prayer times). The square in front of the mosque often has elders resting and children playing.
Morning continued: Gao Tai residential area (ticket 30 RMB, including guide). A more original century-old residential area than Kashgar Old Town, built on a hillside with maze-like alleys.
Note: Some houses are still inhabited, so speak softly and walk slowly. You can overlook the entire ancient town, excellent for photography. It is recommended to follow a guide to avoid getting lost.
Noon: Century-old teahouse + lunch. The favorite leisure spot for locals, with fragrant tea and continuous sound of the rawap lute. Order a pot of Fu tea (8 RMB), paired with roasted buns or naan. Average cost: 25 RMB.
Afternoon: Kashgar Grand Bazaar (Central and West Asia International Trade Market), one of the largest bazaars in China, with a dazzling array of goods.
Recommended areas: dried fruits section—almonds, figs, raisins (samples available); spices section—cumin, chili powder, rose petals; handicrafts—copper pots, flower hats, ethnic musical instruments. Bargaining is possible; bring cash.
Dinner: Artisan Bazaar “Ailijiang BBQ King,” a local favorite barbecue restaurant! Recommended: red willow skewers, naan pit meat, cold noodles. Average cost: 45 RMB.
Stay again at the Old Town guesthouse, second night shared room about 130 RMB per person.
Daily expenses: Transportation 20 (city carpool) + tickets 45 + meals 70 + accommodation 130 = 265 RMB.

Day 3: Farewell to the Western Regions with memories
Morning: Artisan Bazaar (artisan street), more original than the Grand Bazaar, gathering old craftsmen making copper, pottery, and carpets.
Highlights: Watch master craftsmen hand-hammer copper pots, experience making small flower hats (customizable), buy souvenirs: dried fruit gift boxes, rose jam, small flower hats. Recommended stay: 1.5 hours. Respect the craft, do not force photography.
Noon: “Yawage Restaurant” outside the Old Town, authentic Uyghur flavors. Recommended: big plate chicken (48 RMB), thin-skinned buns, handmade noodles. Average cost: 40 RMB.
Transportation: Kashgar Airport → Urumqi Diwopu Airport (return flight about 500 RMB, recommended departure before 14:00). After arrival, you can transfer to your home or continue your Xinjiang journey.
Daily expenses: Transportation 520 (airfare + city) + meals 40 + souvenirs 40 = 600 RMB.

Total cost summary (per person):
Item Cost
Transportation (round-trip airfare + city transfers) 500×2 + 20 + 20 = 1040 RMB
Accommodation (2 nights shared room) 130 × 2 = 260 RMB
Tickets 15 + 30 = 45 RMB
Meals (3 days) 50 + 70 + 40 = 160 RMB
Souvenirs & emergency reserve 40 + 95 = 135 RMB
Total: 1300 RMB. Precisely controlled within budget!

Helpful tips:
1. Best seasons: April to June, September to October, mild climate suitable for travel; winter is cold but fewer tourists.
2. Respect ethnic customs: remove shoes when entering mosques, no photography, no loud noises; women should avoid wearing short skirts.
3. Kashgar has good security, with 24-hour patrols in the Old Town, but keep valuables safe.
4. Buy dried fruits at the bazaar, prices are cheaper than supermarkets, and you can sample before bargaining.
5. Want to save more? Switch accommodation to a hostel (80 RMB/night), total budget can be reduced to within 1100 RMB.

Kashgar is a "living ancient city of the Western Regions." It is the morning chanting at the Id Kah Mosque, the sound of the rawap lute in century-old teahouses, the light and shadow on earthen walls of Gao Tai residences, and the hot, crispy roasted buns. In 3 days and 2 nights, with 1300 RMB, you can not only explore the soul of a border town but also hear the melodious Muqam and taste the lingering flavors of the Silk Road.

Wishing you a pleasant journey!
Please follow me! (To be continued)