Getting Cash in Kashgar (not so easy)
by Wanderboy43
It's November and you cannot get cash via any ATM here. My hotel does not currently exchange money (it's off-season) though I'm sure the higher end hotels do.
The Main Branch of the Bank of China (across from the Mao Statue) has been my only option to get money off my debit card. They allow you to take cash off of a mastercard (which is my debit card) for a 3% commission. You can also exchange USD or Traveler's cheques at a lower rate.
It's funny, the ATM's outside the Bank of China show the symbols for PLUS, CIRRUS, etc. but that doesn't mean jack here or in Urumqi.
Dressing With Respect
by John195123
Kashgar is a Muslim city, to a large extent, but I cannot tell you the number of foreigners who I see walking around Mosques and other religious sites in the wrong clothes. Even around town, women shouldn't wear tank tops, even if the local Chinese do. (The Chinese have very little respect for the culture or the religious nature of the people in this region, it seems, and it's not uncommon to see a Chinese girl in a short skirt or skimpy shirt. Some of them live here, some of them are visiting... there are many stories and vastly differing ideas about the Hans in this region... I'll explain later. But for now, even the guidebooks say to dress conservatively, so no one can plead ignorance. There's no real law against harassment, either, so that's another reason to comply.
Even though I don't necessarily agree with the religious laws that say women must be covered, it is part of their religion and their custom and so should be followed by us when we're in their land.
It's hot. Bloody hot, even. I'm currently wearing shorts (August 1, 2008) but I'm a male. Even for me it's not the best idea. But in a Mosque, I'll be fully covered out of respect. Walking around today, I had long sleeves and long pants on. When in Rome...
The Uyghur Ethnic Group
by mirage88
My trip to Kashgar represented the second time I visited a majority Muslim city. The local people were amazingly friendly and vibrant. Unfortuntely, the Chinese government has been ruling XinJiang province with a iron fist. Shortly before my trip the Chinese military staged large scale training demonstrations in an attempt to scare local muslim separatist groups.
I'm unaware what the current political situation is, but there is palatable tension between the Han Chinese and the Uyghur.
Why not stay and study Uighur at Teachers College
by Wanderboy43
As my friend is interested in studying Uighur (the local language of the Uighur people - a Turkish language writen in Arabic script), I have learned some info about this (from the Admin and a couple current students) and will now pass it on....
First, you can apply to study in Kashgar at just one place and you must live on campus. (Other foreigners working in Kashgar are restricted to another location - I don't remember the name of the area) The price for a 4 month term is $750 and housing runs about $4/day for the dorm. You will probably have to share, but even if you get a single the price is the same. FYI, for the same price you could get a much nicer place off campus. The dorm apartments are a bit dismal, though they have been fixed up nicely by students over time.
As the teachers are trained in literature, not language, there is a range in the quality of instruction. Classes include Chinese, Uighur, and maybe some caligraphy.
For Kashgar, the terms start in September and in March I think and you can't start mid term. To apply you need copies of you degree and resume and a $30 fee; apparently no one is rejected. Most student now come from Korea, though there are random others to make up the now 20 foreign students.
Another option is to study in Urumqi, where this year the restriction of living on campus was lifted. It's a bigger city with more options, and probably better instruction, but maybe doesn't have the magic of Kashgar.
Sunday Bazaar in 1992
by nepalgoods
This is what I wrote about my visit of the Sunday Bazaar in 1992:
Since ancient times Kashgar has been on the cross roads between Central Asia and China:
- Tibet-Xinjiang Highway crossing the Kunlun Mountains with a total length of 1,184 kilometers.
- Xinjiang-Qinhai Highway (go along the southern Silk Road)
- Famous Karakoram highway(KKH)
- Highway to Kyrgyzstan via Torugart Pass and Erkashtam Pass
- Kashgar-Urumqi Highway
Kahsgar has been THE place to exchange goods and news. Its importance in trading can still be experienced during the famous Sunday Bazaar (Sunday Market), when people come from far to trade and meet on the Kashgar Market.
Today they do not trade camels on every sunday. So unfortunately I did not see any camels on the market.
For more pics please see my travelogue!
For informations on present day's Sunday Bazaar (2007) please see my next tip!
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Sunday cattle market
Qinibagh Hotel 2007
Mosque
2007
