Lanzhou is on the transitional area between monsoon climate and non-monsoon climate. It belonged to semiarid continental monsoon climate. The winter is long and cold with little snow and rain; the short spring is characterized by large temperature changes; the summer is hot but not sweltering; and the autumn has large temperature difference between day and night. Comparatively speaking, the late spring and the early summer are the best time for traveling. Another point to be noticed is that visitors please bring some warm clothes in case of the sudden temperature changes.

Lanzhou, the capital city in Gansu, is the political, economic and educational center in the province, and besides it is also a key transportation hinge inNorthwest China. Lanzhou is adjacent to the continuous mountains in the south and north and the Yellow River runs through the city from the east to west. The city covers an area of 13,086 square kilometers and has a population of 2,830,000. There are five districts and three counties under its jurisdiction.

Lanzhou is located on the semiarid monsoon climatic zone. The weather here is featured by large temperature differences and less rainfall. The climate is suitable for the growth of fruits and melons; hence Lanzhou is also called “Fruit and Melon City.” The Bailan Melon, Yellow River honeydew melons and Lanzhou black melon seeds etc. all enjoy nationwide reputations.

Lanzhou was an important city on ancient Silk Road. The long history, unique places of interest and various ethnic customs form the rich tourism resources in Lanzhou. The Silk Road Tourist District, with its center in Lanzhou, includes many famous historical sites, such as Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, Labrang Monastery in Xiahe and Bingling Temple in Yongjing etc. There are also lots of attractions in Lanzhou City. For example, Zhongshan Iron Bridge is called “The First Bridge on the Yellow River.” Xinglong Mountain is considered to be the most famous mountain in Gansu Province. Tulu Valley, Shifo Valley and XujiaMountain are all national forest parks. In recent years, Lanzhou offers the “The Yellow River Traveling Route”, which combines the Silk Road Culture, Yellow River Culture and National Culture together. Now the route becomes the symbol of Lanzhou as well as a popular line among tourists.

The Stone City of Tashkurgan is one of the three well-know stone cities in ancient China. The Stone City is to the north of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County and it is a famous ancient city ruins in Xinjiang. The Stone City was the joint place of the middle path and southern path of ancient Silk Road. Besides, several paths leading to Pamirs from Kashgar, Shache and Yecheng would converge at this place. In Han Dynasty, it was the capital city of Puli Kingdom, one of the 36 Kingdoms in West Region. In Tang Dynasty, the central government pacified the West Region and sent officers to guard the place. Then in early Yuan Dynasty, the Stone City was expanded. In Qing Dynasty, the government set up Puli Office here and established a new town to the south of the Stone City. Gradually, the Stone City was abandoned. Tourists who want to visit Tashkurgan should obtain a Border Pass in Kashgar Public Security Bureau.

The Great Bazaar, located on the East Gate in Kashgar, is the largest international trading market in Northwest China. Bazaar is a Uighur word, which means market in Chinese. Kashgar was a famous historical and cultural city on ancient Silk Road in history. What’s more, it was also a distributing center because all the merchants taking way of the Silk Road would pass this city. So far, the Bazaar on Kashgar has a history of more than 2000 years. Once it had been called the largest market in Asia. At present, the Bazaar contains over 5,000 stalls and offers tens of thousands of commodities. In the past, the Bazaar only opened in Sunday. With the development of tourism and commerce, the Bazaar opens daily. However, Sunday is the most bustling day.

Karakuri Lake, located at an elevation of 3600 meters and covering an area of ten square kilometers, can be found at the foot of the Mushitage Glacier east of the Pamirs in Xinjiang. It is the largest among many lakes in the Pamirs, both wide and deep. Its endless reflecting blue and ebony deceive the astonishing depths of up to 30 meters. Karakuri means black in the Uygur language, and it is from these dark abyssal waters that it gets its name.

From a far distance, the lake is surrounded by mountains and reflects a silvery light, but when approached, Karakuri becomes very quiet and solemn. The grand Mushitage, Gonger and Gongerjiubie peaks invert and mirror in water, creating a landscape both on land and in water. The lake and the hills add radiance and beauty to each other. It is very quiet here. The grassland nearby grows luxuriantly, and one will often spot a shepherd from Kazak or Kerkuzi herding sheep or stationing here. There is service center of wooden houses and yurt that offers respite for mountaineers who have been braving the wide open.

The most amiable seasons for spending a holiday are spring, summer and fall. Hikers and tourists from all over the world come to enjoy the scenic spot, to camp and hike in the fresh air. The climate is nice and cool near the lakeside, and the harmony of the surrounding nature is evocative of the many poems and drawings that the area inspires. It is an ideal place for relaxing and enjoying nature.

The Abakh Hoja Tomb, five kilometers northeast of the city of Kashgar, is an important cultural unit protected by the Autonomous Region. As a tomb of the descendants of an Islamic sage, it was built around 1640. The legend has it that 72 persons in all of five generations of the same family were buried in the tomb. The first generation buried here was Yusuf Hoja, a celebrated Islam missionary. After he died, his eldest son Abakh Hoja carried famous Islamic faction of Baishan during the seventeenth century which seized the power of the Yarkant Court for a time. Abakh Hoja died in 1693 and was buried in the tomb. His reputation was greater than his father's, so the tomb was renamed "the Abakh Hoja Tomb".

The tomb is a group of beautiful and magnificent buildings including the Tomb Hall, the Doctrine-Teaching Hall, the Great Hall of Prayer, the gate tower, a pond and orchard. The Tomb Hall, with a dome shaped top of 17 meters in diameter and covered with green glazed tile south side, is 26 meters high and 39 meters long at the base. The hall is high and spacious. Inside the hall, there is a high terrace on which the tombs are arranged. All the tombs are built of glazed bricks with very beautiful patterns of blue flowers on a white background, glittering, simple and elegant. The Great Hall of Prayer in the west part of the tomb, Ayitijiayi by name, is the place where the Muslim believers conduct service on big days. The Lesser Hall of Prayer and the gate tower are outmost buildings decorated with colorful paintings and elegant brick carvings. Outside the tomb there is a crystal-clear pond lined by tall trees, making the place pleasantly quiet and beautiful.

The legend goes that among the Hoja descendants buried here, there was a lady, Yiparhan by name, who was one of the concubines of the Qing Dynasty Emperor Qianlong. She was called Xiangfei (Fragrant Imperial Concubine) because of the rich delicate fragrance of flower sent forth by her body. After she died, her remains were escorted back to Kashgar by her sister-in-law Sudexiang and were buried in the Apak Hoja Tomb. So, some people call the tomb "the Tomb of Xiangfei." But according to textual research, Xiangfei was none other than Rongfei, a concubine of Emperor Qianlong, and she was actually buried in the East Tombs of the Qing Dynasty in Zunhua County, HebeiProvince after she died.

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Kashgar is the capital for Uyghur Xinjiang. 80% of population in Kashgar are Uyghurs and they are Muslims. Therefore it is very easy for Muslims to travel around Kashgar, mosques and Halal restaurants can be found everywhere. IslamiChina has summarized the following Kashgar Muslim travel tips to our Muslim brothers and sisters to travel Kashgar during a short period of time.

Tour Itinerary Planning

For Muslim Business Travelers If you are in Kashgar for a business trip and you have one day free to travel around Kashgar, make sure that your free time must be Sunday. Sunday is the day that locals all go to the Great Bazaar to exchange their goods. You may spend half day on the Great Sunday Bazaar and the rest of time exploring Kashgar’s Idklah Mosque and the nearby Muslim community.

For Muslim leisure travelers

3 Days and 2 Nights Kashgar Muslim Tour is the best choice for Muslim leisure travelers because this tour itinerary allows you to have enough time to know both Kashgar’s culture heritages as well as Muslim heritages. You are not in a hurry to get around Kashgar from one place to another. Please check IslamiChina’s Kashgar Muslim Tour 3 Days for details.

Accommodations

All hotels in Kashgar have Halal restaurants. Therefore, just pick up a hotel you like in Kashgar.

Halal Restaurants in Kashgar

Since 80% of population in Kashgar are Uyghur people and Uyghur people are Muslims, Kashgar is the easiest city in China to find Halal restaurants. Of course, all Halal restaurants in Kashgar serve Xinjiang Uyghur Cuisine.

Mosques in Kashgar

there are 162 mosques in Kashgar area which proves the enduring presence of Islam in southern Xinjiang. The most famous mosque in Kashgar as well as in Xinjiang is the Idkah Mosque which can accommodate over 10,000 to perform Salat prayers. Muslims gather at Idkah Mosque to celebrate the major holidays, 'Id al-Fitr and 'Id al-Adha. On those days, Uyghurs dance the "sama" in the square, recite the great Uyghur Mukharum epics—locally produced poetry and music set down in the 16th century—and celebrate the unity of Islam in the region.

Money Exchange

You can exchange traveler's checks or cash at most banks, and most 5-star and 4-star hotels always have a money exchange counter. You can also get a cash advance on your credit card on ATM machine. The exchange rate all over China are the same fixed by Bank of China. To change money, you have to have your passport at hand. If you want to change money in a hotel, you usually have to be a guest there. Sometimes if you are not a guest in a hotel but need to change money there, you can just say a random room number, but this doesn't always work. Remember to keep the exchange slip well because you need this slip to change the Chinese Yuan back to your currency if you do have this need at the end of the tour. At present, the RMB is not exchangeable on the International market, so it is only usable within the country. So when you are changing money, don't change too much, because it is difficult to change back into other currencies. To change RMB back into your home currency, you must retain the exchange slips that are given to you at the bank or money exchange counter.