Walking along the alleyways in Kashgar’s Old Town is a history lesson. It’s also an lesson in the beauty of old buildings, even if they look like they’re falling apart. This addition to a home doesn’t look well-designed or stable for that matter, but who can deny the defiance and character it holds?

During my visit to Karakul Lake along the Karakhoram Highway we saw the majestic mountains and the crystal-clear water, but the most memorable experience was meeting our host, a Kyrgyz woman from a nearby village.

Few experiences compare to visiting Kashgar’s Id Kah Mosque during Eid ul-Fitr, the day that most Uyghurs break the month-long Ramadan fast. Check out the video!

Welcome to Kashgar. In terms of size, Kashgar is relatively small, boasting close to only 400,000 inhabitants, yet it is well known all over the world as the cultural and commercial capital of the Silk Road.

My experience traveling to Xinjiang proved to me that Kashgar poses very little danger. What’s dangerous is the distrust between Han and Uyghur.