Kashgar

Kashgar, known as Shule in ancient times, is located in southwestern Xinjiang and is the center of politics and economy in southern Xinjiang. It is the meeting point of the northern and southern ancient Silk Road, and is famous for carvings, arts and crafts, and national singing and dancing. There are tourist attractions such as Aitigar Mosque, Tomb of Abahjia, Kashigele Mausoleum of Mohammed, and Dabazha.

Tomb of Abahjia
Tomb of Abahjia, a typical tomb built in Uygur style, is located in Haohan Village five kilometers northeast of Kashi. It is said to be the tomb of the Fragrant Lady, one of the favorite concubines of Emperor Qian Long of the Qing Dynasty. In fact, it is the graveyard of Yu Supu Hjia, a famous Islam missionary, and his descendents. The Fragrant Lady was buried in Zunhua County, Hebei.

Aitigar Mosque
Aitigar Mosque, located in the heart of Kashi, is the largest mosque in Xinjiang as well as the best institute of learning of Islam in Xinjiang. It occupies an area of 16,800 square meters, and consists of the halls for worshiping, the halls for scripture reciting, the gate tower, and the institute of learning. The worshiping halls and the square in front of the mosque are large enough to accommodate 100,000 worshipers at one time. 

Aksu

Aksu is located on the northern rim of Tarim Basin at the southern foot of Mt. Tianshan in western Xinjiang. It is famous for fruits. Tourist attractions include the Kizir Thousand-Buddha Cave, and the Tarim River.

Ancient Guizi Grottoes
Guizi was referred to as Kuqa and Baicheng in ancient times. Grottoes believed to be the earliest of its kind were found here. The murals in the caves are unique in style.

Kirzir Thousand-Buddha Cave
Kirzir Thousand-Buddha Cave, located in the secluded valley at the northern mountain foot between Kuqa and Baicheng, is one of the birthplaces of the art of Guizi grottoes. Its art of cave construction, sculpture, and murals is an important component of the art of central Asia and the Orient. Still in existence are 252 caves in the east and the west of the valley.

Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture of Bayingolin

Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture of Bayingolin
Korla, 471 kilometers north of Urumqi, is a transportation center of southern Xinjiang and inland China. There are such tourist attractions as Bayanbulak Grassland, the Swan Lake, Bosten Lake, the ruins of the ancient Loulan, Mt. Altun Nature Reserve, and Yadan scenic spot.

Ruins of the Ancient Loulan
Ruins of the Ancient Loulan is located in Ruoqiang County. It was the capital of the 36 kingdoms in the western region of the Han Dynasty as well as an important thoroughfare on the ancient Silk Road, flourished during the 2nd century B.C. and the 4th century. The articles unearthed in the ruins have attracted world attention, among which the most precious are the hand-written copy of the Strategies of the Warring States Period. The paper used is believed to be 700 years of earlier than that found in Europe.

The Bayanbulak Swan Nature Reserve
The Bayanbulak Swan Nature Reserve, a state-level nature reserve with beautiful landscape, is located on the Bayanbulak Grassland in the middle section of Mt. Tianshan, with an area of 1 ,000 square kilometers. The best season for visiting is between April and October.

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