You must visit Kashgar in your life!

This is the motherland

One of the most western regions

When the workers in the east have already woken up early

Here I am still sleeping in a gentle dream

(Kashgar location diagram, map by @Gao Liqian/Planet Research Institute)

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Although so far away

Still can't stop tourists' yearning

The ancient Western Regions in history textbooks

In Kashgar, it has a clear picture

There

The buildings are stacked like sky gardens

(Residential buildings in the ancient city of Kashgar, photographer @杜铭伟)

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The girl danced to the happy beat

(A Uyghur girl dancing gracefully, photographer @吴渊)

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People riding wild horses

(Fierce sheep grabbing competition, photographer @岑朝航)

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Street performers all have unique skills

(Jugglers on the streets of Kashgar, photographer @姚力)

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There are also ancient villages hidden in the river valley

Whispering the secret of "Why are the flowers so red?"

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Pamir Xinghua Village, photographer @Hao Pei)

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In addition to the vivid cultural customs

Travel along the Karakoram Highway

Snow-capped mountains, glaciers and wetlands along the way

The magnificence you want

Kashgar can also give you

(Scenery of the Karakoram Highway in China, drawn by @Chen Jingyi/Planet Research Institute)

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It is a precious fertile soil in the wilderness

It is the shining pearl of the ancient Silk Road.

It is a charming city full of fireworks

Let people be willing to endure the long journey

You must also visit this most vivid Western Region!

01

Fertile Land

As we flew to Kashgar

To cross a vast sea of ​​sand

The length is an astonishing 1000km

This is the Tarim Basin.

The famous Taklimakan Desert

Very little rainfall, extremely dry

Like a "sea of ​​death"

(Taklimakan Desert, photographer @张扬小强)

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Aerial view of Kashgar

At the westernmost end of this vast ocean

The other three sides

They are also surrounded by huge mountains.

From the basin desert at an altitude of more than 1,000 meters

To the snow-capped mountains with an altitude of more than 8,000 meters

A drop of 7,000 meters

It is even more awe-inspiring

(The location of Kashgar and the surrounding terrain, drawn by @Gao Liqian/Planet Research Institute)

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Among them, the Karakoram Mountains south of Kashgar

The average altitude of the mountain is over 5,500 meters

There are 4 peaks above 8,000 meters.

The highest peak is K2, which is 8,611 meters high.

It is the second highest peak in the world after Mount Everest.

The difficulty of climbing it has earned it the nickname "Savage Peak"

(K2, photographer @张诚心)

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Pamir Plateau west of Kashgar

It is also a mountain knot where many mountains converge.

The average altitude is over 4000 meters

Rugged mountains and deep valleys

(Pamir Plateau, photographer @自由兵)

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These mountains that reach into the sky

It also intercepts the remaining water vapor in the air

With his majestic body

And the cold at high altitude

The extremely vast glaciers

(Display of water systems and glaciers around Kashgar, drawn by @高麗倩/Planet Research Institute)

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As in the Karakoram Mountains

Telamukanli Glacier

The glacier area reaches 110 square kilometers

The exquisite and transparent ice tower is more than 10 meters high

The ice towers are connected in rows.

A glacier maze

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Telamukanli Glacier, photographer @Hao Pei)

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Standing in front of a huge wall of ice

I can only lament the insignificance of human beings

(Ice wall of glacier in Karakoram Mountains, photographer @Hao Pei)

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but

In this terrifying wilderness

In fact, it hides the ultimate vitality

A huge glacier that is difficult to access

But it is Kashgar’s precious “solid water reservoir”

A huge glacier that seems to be motionless

There is also a constant supply of snowfall and avalanches

(Avalanche on a glacier in the Karakoram Mountains, photographer @Hao Pei)

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When the ice and snow melt into streams

Breeding wetland pastures under the snow-capped mountains

Clearly the best gift from the glacier

(Taheman Wetland, Photographer @自由兵)

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Especially Muztagh Ata

Like a kind father with gray eyebrows

With its own white snow and glaciers

Moisturizing the hard-won alpine grassland

Respected by locals as the " Father of Iceberg "

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Muztagh Ata Peak and the grassland at the foot of the mountain, photographer @张称心)

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When the glacier meltwater continues to flow through

Between the valleys of snowy peaks

The people living on both sides of the river valley

Bringing a warm message of spring

(Apricot blossoms in spring in Almalek Village, photographer @姚璐)

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And to the dry earth

Add the most charming colors

(Overlooking the Gaizi River, photographer @马春林)

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Wait for the river to rush out of the canyon

Bringing vitality to distant places

(Oytak River Valley, photographer @尘月RoyChen)

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As the water gathers more and more

Let's go to the Tarim Basin together

The desert is a forbidden place for life

Infused with maximum vitality

Especially the Yarkand River

As one of the main sources of the Tarim River

It is the one with the largest amount of water and the longest process.

(Yarkand River, picture source @Visual China)

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A river with abundant water

Nourishing the largest oasis in southern Xinjiang

The adjacent Kashgar and Yarkand River oases

Like a jade stone embedded in the desert

(Distribution of oases in Kashgar region, map by Gao Liqian/Planet Research Institute)

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In these precious oases

Often forms many ditches, ponds and lakes

A variety of plants grow

Every autumn, the sky is high and the air is refreshing

Populus euphratica forest reflected in water

The yellow leaves are like dye, like a poem or a painting

(Poplar forest in Zepu County, Kashgar, photographer @方叹士)

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More importantly

In an oasis blessed by the river

A field that can still nurture hope

Surrounded by an endless sea of ​​sand

It turns out that we can also achieve thousands of acres of fertile land

(Please watch in horizontal mode, oasis farmland in Kashgar, photographer @柴江辉)

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Kashgar in the oasis

There is an endless supply of water from the snow-capped mountains.

It's like a paradise in the wilderness

Nourishing a long-lasting civilization

02

Pearl of the Silk Road

138 BC

After Zhang Qian "opened up" the Western Regions

Silk Road

This world trade network

Officially passed

When he passed through a place called Shule

Surprised to find this has become so advanced

(Shule is today's Kashgar City. In 60 BC, the Western Han Dynasty established the Western Regions Protectorate, and Shule was officially governed by the Han Dynasty; the picture below is a portrait of Zhang Qian, the picture source is @Visual China)

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Same as Zhang Qian's choice

Later brave men will also stop here

On the journey along the Silk Road

Although I have suffered enough from the Gobi Desert

There is a more dangerous Pamir Plateau ahead

After gathering and resting in Kashgar

To survive and reach Central Asia and India

As far as Arabia and Europe

(Kashgar's location on the Silk Road, map by @Gao Liqian/Planet Research Institute)

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Kashgar, located at the crossroads of the Silk Road, is like this.

There are many different kinds of people active here.

Step by step, we will become the Silk Road

One of the most shining pearls

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Commercial center

From Chang'an West to Rome

7000km long trade route

Even today, it’s still a long way to go.

Kashgar's location naturally makes it a stopover

For the East, this is the western frontier of the dynasty

For the West, this is China.

Historically, the Han, Sogdian,

Uighurs, Persians, Arabs

Businessmen with different faces, speaking different languages

Unafraid of the dangers of the journey, they formed a caravan and came

Because silk is such a fine commodity

It is really profitable

(Adelais silk sold in the Kashgar market, photographer @吴渊)

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In addition to the silk from the Central Plains

There are also fine horses from Dayuan

Jade from Khotan, Ironware from Kucha

The spices of rest, the glass of Rome

Various luxury goods are commonplace

(Gold jewelry is the most popular accessory for local people to buy, photographer @袁欢欢)

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To ensure long-distance transportation

There were many post stations along the trade route.

A place for tired business travelers to rest

The safety of expensive goods is also worth entrusting

(The ancient post station of Yaltegongbaizi in the Jirigaler ruins. "Jrigaler" means "post station" in Tajik. Photographer @莎洛曼蛇)

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When the caravan reached Kashgar

I can't help but admire the prosperity of the city's shops.

The market is called "Bazaar" in Kashgar

over time

Not only is the scale getting bigger

The division of labor is becoming more and more detailed

There are more tricks out there

Cloth bazaar, livestock bazaar, carpet bazaar

Hat Bazaar, Food Bazaar, Leather Bazaar

Bazaar is everywhere and covers everything

The whole of Kashgar is the kingdom of bazaar

(The dazzling array of goods at Kashgar Bazaar, image source: Visual China)

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Beyond the prosperity

Kashgar, a strategic location on the Silk Road

It is also inevitable that it will be coveted by many parties.

②

Focus

As early as the Western Han Dynasty

Kashgar was incorporated into China's territory

But whenever the Central Plains dynasty weakened

Often, regimes emerge to take advantage of opportunities.

To protect the trade route between China and the West

Throughout the ages, brave soldiers have always stepped forward

(Geng Gong was once stationed in Shule, but this Shule is not that Shule. It is just a beautiful misunderstanding caused by two cities with the same name. The picture below is Geng Gong Temple in the ancient city of Kashgar, photographer @吴渊)

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In the early years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the situation in the Western Regions became critical.

The famous general Ban Chao once volunteered

Resolutely set out to the northwest to resist the Huns

After that, he stayed in Shule for a long time and managed the frontier.

Pantu City then became a base in the Western Regions

(Panluo City, picture source @Visual China)

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By the time of the Tang Dynasty, the empire had expanded

Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, inherited the Han Dynasty

Establishment of Anxi Protectorate in the Western Regions

The four towns of Anxi were also established within the jurisdiction.

That is, Qiuci, Yanqi, Khotan and Shule

Responsible for the defense and commercial taxation of the Western Regions

The northwestern border of the Tang Dynasty was thus stabilized.

(After 679, Suiye replaced Yanqi and became one of the new four towns of Anxi; the picture below is the Princess Fort, a military fortress of the Tang Dynasty. Please watch it in horizontal mode. Photographer: @莎洛曼蛇)

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During the Qing Dynasty, the Dzungars rose again

Emperor Qianlong took advantage of the internal strife

Unify the north and south of Tianshan

Later, Laining City was built in Kashgar

In charge of eight major cities in southern Xinjiang

The vast Western Regions returned to unified management

(The Laining City during the Qianlong period no longer exists. The Laining City marked in the picture was rebuilt during the Guangxu period. Map by @冯艺卓/星球研究院)

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Under the protection of generations

Kashgar continues to develop and prosper

It also attracts people from afar

Civilizations of Central Asia, India, and Arabia

All merge together here

③

Cultural melting pot

More than 2,400 years ago

Zoroastrianism, which originated in Central Asia, came here

Its rise and fall are mysterious.

Only on the Pamir Plateau

Leaving behind a fragment of the Holy Fire Worship

(The Gilzankal cemetery is speculated to be a Zoroastrian relic, photographer @莎洛曼蛇)

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Around the 1st century BC

Buddhism originated from India and was introduced to Shule

From the monarch to the common people

The capital of Shule began to believe in Buddhism

At the same time, Buddhist temples were built and Buddhist caves were opened.

(Sanxian Cave is a Buddhist cave from the ancient Shule Kingdom period, photographer @刘玉生)

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Over 1,000 years

The Buddhist cause in Shule is flourishing

Became the Buddhist cultural center of the Western Regions

According to historical records, there were "hundreds of monasteries and more than ten thousand monks."

The most magnificent one is the Morfo Temple

Various eminent monks and famous companions came in an endless stream

Either go to the West to seek Buddhist scriptures, or preach in the East

A large collection of Buddhist classics

Like the great monk Kumarajiva

All of them have translated scriptures here

(The above is quoted from Tang Xuanzang's "Great Tang Records on the Western Regions"; the picture below is the Morfo Temple Pagoda, please watch it in horizontal mode, photographer @Hao Pei)

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Buddhism flourished in Kashgar for nearly 1,000 years

The Mor Pagoda is its last witness.

After the 9th century, influenced by the eastward expansion of Islamic forces

Satuk Bogra Khan used it to seize the throne

After a long war

Other religions gradually declined

His successor strengthened economic development

At the same time, we vigorously promote education and culture

Kashgar becomes a cultural center radiating Central Asia

Attracting a large number of literati and scholars

Or study further, or write a book

(In ancient times, Id Kah Mosque cultivated many scholars; the picture below shows the outer corridor of Id Kah Prayer Hall, photographer @刘耕新)

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Like the poet Yusup Has Hajifu

Wrote 13290 lines of

Narrative poem "The Wisdom of Happiness"

Praise the great power of knowledge and wisdom

It also opened up a new era that influenced the entire Central Asian literature.

"Kashgar Era"

(Yusup Has Hajifu Maza, photographer @杜铭伟)

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Amanisahan

An artist who is obsessed with music

She reformed the music scattered among the people

Building a musical monument for the Uyghur people

This is the Twelve Muqams that are still sung today.

(Mukham is a large-scale musical suite, which can be understood as Uyghur classical music; the picture below shows the Shache Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo Park, where there are twelve Muqam performances, the photographer is @吴渊)

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People who used to travel along the ancient road

Together they wrote the legend of the Pearl of the Silk Road

Today, people living in Kashgar

Still creating this vibrant world

03

Vibrant Room

Now, the story of the horse race has come to an end

Many ancient cities of the same age as Kashgar

Unfortunately it was abandoned, leaving only ruins

For example, Jiaohe and Niya, which developed in the Han Dynasty

In Kashgar, many ethnic groups still live there.

As lively as it was two thousand years ago

(The multi-ethnic Kashgar region, map by Zhang Qiyue/Planet Research Institute)

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The most magnificent landmark in the ancient city

Id Kah Mosque

The building has been continuously maintained through the generations

Developed into the largest in Xinjiang

(Id Kah Mosque, listed as a national key cultural relic protection site in 2001, picture source @Visual China)

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The original meaning of "Id Kah" is

Festival venue

Every Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr

In the huge square in front of the temple

There were crowds of people, and the cheers were deafening.

(Happy Eid al-Fitr in Kashgar, photographer @戚伟民)

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Compared to the beautiful landmark buildings

The residential areas in Kashgar seem a bit cramped

Lack of wood and environmental constraints

Most building materials prefer raw soil

Looks a bit "rustic"

(The houses in Kashgar made of earth, photographer @杜铭蔚)

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‍

But is this really the case?

Why not go into the city and see it with your own eyes?

The secret of the ancient city still being as fresh as ever for thousands of years

In fact, it comes from dedicating all your love to life

Enter the ancient city

First of all, we will defeat the rustic impression

The endless greenery that greets you

Grapevine, cherry tree, pomegranate tree

Roses, Chinese roses, figs

Climbing all over the walls and the foot of the house

There is always a lot of life in front of the door

(The vitality in front of the door, photographer @陈小羊)

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And only a few dots of green

Still can't satisfy the pursuit of beauty

Hidden behind the green plants

There are also colorful doors and windows

Blue, green, pink

Red, purple, yellow

It's like entering a fairy tale world

(Painting the door, photographer @康辉)

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Blue window with grape patterns

How much is loaded?

Endless childhood fantasies

(A child at the window of Kashgar Ancient City, photographer @万瑞)

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And open the colorful doors and windows

Visiting a Family in Kashgar

Gorgeous arches and colorful tiles

The most beautiful national colors

Will offer a small Kashgar shock

(Please watch in horizontal screen, the inner courtyard of a family in Kashgar, photographer @wzkdream)

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For the people of Kashgar

The happiest thing

Nothing is better than a family reunion

Home is a quiet harbor away from the wind and sand

Whether the Supa covered with gorgeous eaves

Or a cozy garden decorated with green plants

They always use their creativity

Create beautiful courtyards for every household

(Please watch in horizontal mode, illustration of residential buildings in the ancient city of Kashgar, drawn by @冯艺卓&张琪月/Planet Research Institute)

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In my own courtyard

You can sit cross-legged in the porch leisurely

Slowly savor the leisurely afternoon time

(An old man in the ancient city is drinking tea at home, photographer @自由兵)

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In my own courtyard

You can also follow the ups and downs of the beat

An impromptu dance of joy

(Happy dance in the yard, photographer @吴渊)

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It is also because of the attachment to home.

Facing an increase in family members

They often choose to build on the original house.

When the building is not enough

It even extends from the second floor.

Crossing the streets and alleys to form a street-over building

(Ancient city crossing building, photographer @樊小喆)

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Rows of overpasses

Intertwined families

The freely growing courtyard

It also makes the streets confusing.

(Please watch in horizontal mode, typical blocks in Kashgar Old Town, map by @冯艺卓&张琪月/Planet Research Institute)

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Wandering in the maze-like streets

You can never guess what's around the next corner

What kind of surprise will you encounter?

(Street scene in the ancient city of Kashgar, photographer @张称心)

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These crisscross alleys

It is a paradise for children

Whenever the sun sets and the bell rings

The sun gradually faded

The earth is no longer hot

They can go from this end of the alley

Run to the end of the alley

(Children running and playing in the ancient city, photographer @阿杜)

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In the narrow alley

Come to a hearty ball game

(Street football in the ancient city, photographer @尘月RoyChen)

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You can also go with good friends

Quietly nestling on the ground

(Playing games together, photographer @尘月RoyChen)

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And the streets are wider than the alleys

It is always bustling

Take a stroll

Beautiful appearance before your eyes

Various shops

Which one can make people dazzled

(Shops on the streets of the ancient city, photographer @李文斐)

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My ears keep ringing

The sound of clanging

Making copper kettles, forging iron sheets, and making musical instruments

Bustling handicraft workshops at the ancient Silk Road post station

This moment seems to travel through time in history

(An uncle making a copper tea tray, photographer @陈小羊)

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Accompanied by the sound of knocking

There is also pleasant and charming music

Too many musical instruments to count

Dutar, Satar, Tanpur

Rebab, Etek, Kalon

Hushitar, Dab, Surnai

The historical memory of the Western Regions flows through

(Residents of the ancient city play Dab, photographer @贺磊)

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The sense of smell is constantly impacted

Roasted buns, roasted pigeons, roasted lamb

Nangkeng meat, jar meat, rack meat

Big plate chicken, pilaf, naan meat

Either one is mouth-watering

(Kashgar red willow lamb kebabs, image source: @Visual China)

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The unexpected thing is

Such a charming city

No one planned

Instead, it forms completely spontaneously

In other words, the careful management of each household

Creating tiny spaces bit by bit

Multiply the thickness of time, plus the breadth of space

Gathering into a collective force that cannot be underestimated

Finally defeated the desert, defeated the wasteland

(The smile of a Tajik child on the Pamir Plateau, photographer @射虎)

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Everyone's love and management

Just like the renewal of cells in an organism

Keep Kashgar evolving and vibrant

Every family is evolving

For example, building materials are becoming more abundant.

No longer limited by the past

From civil engineering to brick-wood and brick-concrete

Every household is constantly updating

(Aerial view of the ancient city of Kashgar, photographer @吴渊)

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The whole city is evolving

The location of cities has changed repeatedly in history

Finally settled in a fertile land surrounded by two rivers

It continues to expand over time

Developed into today's urban landscape

(Illustration of the urban development and changes in Kashgar, drawn by @冯艺卓/Planet Research Institute)

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As the national layout improves

Kashgar’s positioning is also constantly evolving

The former pearl of the Silk Road

Now it is not only the gateway to Central Asia

It can also pass through the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway

Connecting to the vast ocean in the distance

(China-Pakistan Friendship Highway, leading to Gwadar Port in the distance, photographer @莎洛曼蛇)

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When historical context meets modern civilization

When ancient camel bells turned into the Iron Silk Road

An ancient city spanning thousands of years

Still retaining the youthful vitality

Gathering strength for take-off at the foot of Kunlun Mountain

(Please watch in horizontal screen, the dream city under Kunlun Mountain, photographer @王炳瑞)

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The past is so glorious

The road ahead is still long

Kashgar on the road

We are also on the road

It's better not to hesitate at this moment

Set off to the most vibrant Western Regions!

(Autumn on the Pamir Plateau, photographer @自由兵)

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This article was created by

Written by : Yelu

Image : 135 billion light years

Map: Gao Liqian & Chen Jingyi

Design: Feng Yizhuo & Zhang Qiyue

Proofreading: Zhou Tianxiu & Li Chuyang & Chen Zhihao

Cover image source: Visual China & Yao Lu & She Hu

Audit Expert

Professor Wang Binghua from Xinjiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology

Associate Professor Hao Yuanlin, School of History and Culture, Tianjin Normal University

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