Kashgar is classical.

The Silk Road is long and has a long ancient charm. When you are in the streets and alleys of Kashgar, melodious Muqam music can be heard from time to time, as if telling the long years of the ancient Silk Road road. Muqam art of Uyghur and Xinjiang, China, which integrates song, dance and joy, was selected into the third batch of UNESCO Representative List of Human Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2005.

Kashgar cultural relics are rich. Walking into the Panchucheng Ruins Park, it feels like passing through thousands of years in one step. It reproduces the historical chapter of Ban Chao's thousands of miles of protection of Xinjiang and tells the vivid story of exchanges and integration of various ethnic groups. According to expert research, Panyu City is the embryonic form of Kashgar, with a history of more than 2,000 years.

Gaotai Residential Historical and Cultural District in Kashgar, Xinjiang. Photo by Hu Huhu (Xinhua Agency)

Kashgar is modern.

On the Tuman River, under the Kunlun Tower, a creative fashion show called "Desert Rose" won bursts of applause. Since last year, various modern costume shows integrating ethnic customs have been staged one after another in Kashgar.

Trends gather and surging passenger flow. Kashgar enjoys the location advantage of "connecting eight countries with five ports and connecting Europe and Asia all the way". The 1.5-hour aviation economic circle covers the capitals and major economic cities of eight surrounding countries. The throughput of Kashgar Reining International Airport exceeded 3 million passengers for the first time last year. In November 2023, the Kashgar area of the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone was unveiled, injecting new momentum into the high-quality development of Kashgar's economy.

Classics and modernity blend, and tradition and fashion interact. Kashgar, located at the intersection of the South Road and the North Road of the Ancient Silk Road, integrates Eastern and Western civilizations and cultivates a unique humanistic temperament.

"You can see through Urumqi's internal organs at a glance, but you can never see through Kashgar's misty eyes." As the poet Zhou Tao described, the "double-faced Kashgar", which is both classical and modern, exudes fascinating charm.

Large "studio" 中央广播电视总台龙年春晚喀什分会场，以喀什古城为背景的《舞乐新疆》精彩亮相，让更多人认识了喀什。喀什旅游随之升温，龙年春节期间，喀什古城景区接待游客35.1万人次。

For those who have never been to Kashgar, this place is somewhat mysterious; if you have, you will always feel different when you visit again.

The Kashgar branch venue of the Spring Festival Gala of the Year of the Dragon with the ancient city of Kashgar as the background. Photo by Jotiker Nigati (Photo authorized by the author)

"Kashgar is a huge 'studio' that is very impressive. Take pictures of scenery, streets, customs, and also ask someone to take pictures of yourself." Guangdong tourist Wu Meiwei came to Kashgar after six years and found that the scenery and customs were there, but the temperament was different."I used to take a quick look at the scenery all the way, but now I immersively experience everything."

An oversized "studio" is a relatively consistent feeling of Kashgar among tourists from all over the world. Whether it is in attractions such as the ancient city of Kashgar, Xiangfei Garden, and Panyu City Heritage Park, or in the streets and alleys and lively Bazaar, tourists can be seen taking photos everywhere.

"Traditional culture needs modern expression." Patiman Turdi, director of the Culture, Sports, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau of Kashgar City, said that Kashgar is releasing its development potential by tapping the connotation of the times.

As one of the largest existing raw-earth buildings in the world, the ancient city of Kashgar carries history and is also innovative. Many buildings have antique exterior and modern and fashionable interiors. While walking, apart from music, the most important thing I can hear is the click of the camera shutter. Amid mottled light and shadow, people dressed in ethnic minority costumes. Travel photographers were asked to retain the beautiful moments and freeze the beauty of traditional buildings, characteristic streets, and folk customs.

Song and dance performance in Xiangfei Garden Scenic Area. Photo by Qiao Wenhui (Zhongjing Vision)

Founded in 1640, Xiangfei Garden is famous for its mysterious Xiangfei. Today, a series of historical and folk sitcoms make this place a theme scenic spot. In addition to Xiangfei Tomb, Folk Museum, embossed wall, Baoyue Tower, Wenxiang Pavilion, Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Area and other attractions, Xiangfei Garden Scenic Area also has a sound-shaking beauty shooting base to promote tourism in this scenic area and even Kashgar.

"Kashgar has no shortage of attention. The key is how to turn attention into online traffic and tourism retention." Internet celebrity "Aini", whose real name is Abuduaini Wuji, is the host of the performance program in the Xiangfei Garden Scenic Area. Since 2021, he has been planning to shoot Short Video to promote and promote Xiangfei Garden.

Kashgar's streets and communities are also quietly changing. "Always replace new peaches with old charms","An inch of time cannot be light","There is a family where white clouds are born"... Jiefang South Road is lit up by more than 1700 poetry lights. Stroll through it, step by step, and the ancient style and literary charm come to your face.

"It's great for the children to recite aloud the poems they have learned while walking on the road!" Abudukader Ainiwar, a citizen of Kashgar City, is not without pride.

Kashgar has a new way of presentation.

Local specialties "change face" 巴旦木遇上榴莲，红枣投身咖啡杯，箱包披上艾德莱斯绸纹样外衣……细品喀什，许多特色产品进行了“跨界交流”。用当地文创店店主麦吾兰·图拉克的话来说，越来越多的喀什土特产变“新鲜”了。

Get a glimpse of the whole leopard and watch the transformation of a dried fruit. Kashgar is the main forest and fruit producing area. Agricultural products such as walnuts, red dates, and Badan wood are of high quality and delicious. How can traditional forest fruits taste new flavors, adapt to and even lead the new trend of consumption?

A live broadcast event held in the ancient city of Kashgar. Photo by Qiao Wenhui (Zhongjing Vision)

Kashgar Jiangguoguo Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. has taken the unusual path and developed and produced new products such as durian-flavored almond kernels, strawberry-flavored almond kernels, and rattan pepper flavored walnut kernels. Chen Wenjun, the person in charge of the company, said that competition for homogenization of leisure foods is serious. Only by introducing new products on the basis of high quality can we increase market share.

When you enter a durian-flavored Badam kernel, the durian flavor spreads from the tip of your tongue, instantly refreshing your mind; when you chew it, a strong nutty aroma comes over, which is endless aftertaste... This "Kashgar flavor" quickly became popular and became a popular product that people competed to taste. Traditional core, trendy taste, and fashionable appearance. This is dried fruit and Kashgar.

When observing "double-sided Kashgar" in life, the most intuitive perspective is not only food, but also clothing.

Desert, snowy mountains, Gobi, long rivers, sunset... Last summer, the "Silk Road Ancient Town·Drunken Beauty Kashgar" fashion show was unveiled in Kashgar, and models wore "Kashgar" on them. This catwalk show in front of the characteristic building combines regional culture and fashion elements, giving people a strong visual enjoyment.

Innovation is based on tradition, and trend stems from heritage. On the streets and scenic spots of Kashgar, some wear fashionable clothes, some wear ethnic costumes, and some wear Han costumes. Among them, the Idelis pattern is the most unique scenery.

The silk made with Idelis's weaving and dyeing skills is colorful and rich in patterns, and is deeply loved by people of all ethnic groups. In 2008, Xinjiang Uyghur Idelis silk weaving and dyeing skills were selected into the second batch of national intangible cultural heritage list.

"The colors are rich but harmonious, just like Xinjiang, where multiple ethnic groups live in harmony and are colorful." Every holiday, Gulibahar Maitijiang wears beautiful dresses made of Edelis silk. Being engaged in fashion design in Kashgar, she often goes to "Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou" to learn from others and expand her design ideas."To make traditional crafts shine with the style of the times, we must keep a close eye on trends." This traditional fabric, which originated from Xinjiang and has been elegant for thousands of years, has become a local characteristic industry.

"In Kashgar, the excellent traditional culture of the nation and the culture of regional characteristics are spreading in a more fashionable and youthful way." Shanghai tourist Yang Lujia said.

Kashgar has a new way to open it.

The bright moon shines in ancient and modern times 在既古典又现代的喀什，如果要找一处传统与现代的结合点，或者说最佳古今交汇处，那一定非喀什古城莫属。

"A bright moon shines through ancient and modern times." On a bright moon in the sky, you can often feel this way when walking in the streets of the ancient city of Kashgar.

In an old building with unique style, there may be a fashionable cafe; in a small courtyard with modern style, there is a simple old teahouse. In the streets and alleys of the old city, traditional Maixi Laifu songs and dances and modern street dance appear at the same time. Muqam music and trendy rap are in no way inconsistent.

An alley in the ancient city of Kashgar. Photo by Qiao Wenhui (Zhongjing Vision)

"Ding ding, ding..." Sparks flew everywhere from the Kantuman Bazaar Iron Industry Society in the ancient city of Kashgar, and the frequent sound of iron-forging seemed to echo history and reality. Not only does Kantuman and other farm tools are produced here and the history of iron making is displayed, tourists can also experience being a blacksmith.

More than 10 years ago, the comprehensive management project for the renovation of dilapidated houses in Kashgar's Ancient City was launched. The iron-forging shop that used to only produce farm tools was transformed into an iron industry club and a memorial hall. "Making money by farming land in Kantuman, I didn't expect that the process of making Kantuman could also make money." Mijiti Maimaiti, the inheritor of ironware hand-making skills, lamented.

The comprehensive management project for the renovation of dilapidated houses has done its best to ensure the historical authenticity, integrity of style and convenience of life of the ancient city. The local area has deeply explored the rich connotation of intangible cultural heritage, explored "intangible cultural heritage + cultural creativity","intangible cultural heritage + B & Bs","intangible cultural heritage + performing arts" and other business formats, allowing old blacksmith shops, old musical instrument shops, and old wood shops to incorporate fashion elements. While carrying historical memories and expressing nostalgia, it also injects new vitality and vitality.

A cultural wall in the ancient city of Kashgar. Photo by Qiao Wenhui (Zhongjing Vision)

The ancient city of Kashgar is getting younger and younger. Not only because of fashionable dressing and innovative business formats, but also because more and more young people have been attracted to enter and settle in the ancient city, where they can start businesses and strive to bloom their talents.

The ancient city of Kashgar has a "Guli's Home". The owner, Shalamatiguri Kari, was once a tour guide in the scenic area. Many tourists hope to enter the courtyard of ethnic minorities to experience folk customs, so she brings tourists home and warmly welcomes them. Encouraged and supported by local entrepreneurship policies, Salamatiguri Kari transformed her home into a B & B. Because of good business, she rented a small courtyard in Gucheng and planned to open a B & B branch, which will open this spring.

"The ancient city is a scenic spot and a place where we live. When you are in a good mood, you feel like spring every day." Shalamatiguri Kari said.

That's right! The warm wind blows gently, the vegetation and trees recover, spring is on the road, spring is in the heart, and Kashgar is ushering in another spring.

Kashgar has a new way of telling.