Karshi , city (1991 pop. 168,000), S Uzbekistan, on the Kashka-Darya
River. It is the center of a fertile oasis that produces wheat,
cotton, and silk. Karshi was founded in the 9th cent. as a stop
on the caravan route between Samarkand and Afghanistan. It has
a 16th-century mosque and mausoleum.
Id Kah Mosque
Located in the center of the city, this grand Islamic structure
is a stark contrast to the many Chinese-style mosques in Xi'an.
This yellow-and-white structure has a central dome and flanking
minarets, which usually associated with mosques in Pakistan
or Afghanistan. Shakesimirzha, a ruler of Kashgar, had the mosque
built here first in1442 and it was extended to its present shape
through several renovation work.
The largest in China, it attracts as many as 10,000 worshippers
at prayers on Friday afternoon. The different buildings consist
of Hall of Prayer, Doctrine-Teaching Hall, a gate tower, a pond
and some auxiliary rooms.
Bazaar
Owing to its favorable position, countless merchants from
many parts of the world went to Kashgar. So it was also called
as "the pearl on the Ancient Silk Road". Bazaars are
the focus of activity nearly on all days. With the stalls dotted
here and there, the streets are crowded. Among the bazaars,
some are comprehensive ones, and some are specialized markets
selling local produce, arts and crafts, garments, knives, timber,
coal or animals.
Kashgar is famous for its delicate knives sold in the streets
and by hawkers in the streets. It is also a hat-making center
and certain sections of streets are devoted entirely to the
selling of hat and beautiful fur-lined headgear. Blacksmiths'
shop line up on each side of the streets, and the sound from
them can be heard in the streets. Colorful painted wooden saddles
is on sale, and you can pick your dinner from a choice line-up
of goats' heads and hoofs.
Abakh Khoja Tomb
Located 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) northeast of the city of
Kashgar, it served as the family tomb of Abakh Khoja, the powerful
ruler of Kashgar in the 17th century who was revered as a prophet
and second only to Mohammed.
First built in 1640, all five generations of the family are
buried within. There were 72 tombs until an earthquake destroyed
some. The first generation buried here was Yusuf Hoja, a celebrated
Islam missionary. After he died, his eldest son Apak Hoja died
in 1693, buried here and his reputation was greater than his
father's, so the tomb was renamed "Abakh Khoja Tomb".
Karakuri Lake
Karakuri Lake, known as the father of glaciers, sitting at
an elevation of 3600 meters (1,1808 feet), is located at the
foot of Mount Maztagata. It is an unspoiled place like Shangri-la
for its dramatic and spectacular natural scenery. The surface
of the lake reflects the snow-covered peaks of Mount Muztagata,
which towers in the background. Hikes and walks around here
is a kind of refreshing. Especially in summer, flowers bloom
and the air is fresh and pleasant. However, it can get very
cold at this altitude however, so bring extra clothing with
you to keep warm. An entire walk around the lake need one day.
You can also spend more time here, staying in the Kazakh Yurts
or camping if you have your own tent.
Three Immortals Buddhist Caves
In the cliffs 18 km north of Kashgar lies the Three Immortals
Buddhist Caves. Hewn
from the cliff some 10 meters above the riverbed, these caves
can be dated back to the 2nd or 3rd century, ranking as the
earliest Buddhist caves in western China.
With an entrance in rectangle shape, each cave has two chambers.
The front chambers are 4 meters in length and width while the
rear are half. No murals were kept in the middle cave due to
a reconstruction in the Qing dynasty. In the left-hand cave,
about 70 murals survived. At the top of this cave painted a
Buddha, whose cassock is painted in sapphire blue and chocolate,
which is very rare in the earlier Buddhist murals.
