Fotos

The Uyghur people are one of the biggest ethnic minorities in China. They are a Turkic people and live primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, in the far west of China. There are diasporic communities in Pakistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, etcetera.

Kashgar has been noted from very early times as a political and commercial centre. The Kashgar oasis is where both the northern and southern silk routes from China around the Taklamakan Desert converge.

This picture was taken during an afternoon stroll around town. We were constantly followed by children calling out for us, wanting their picture taken. Just when I thought I'd have enough, this guy went another step further and started performing all sort of tricks to attract our attention. I couldn't resist...

Meanwhile the South Xinjiang branch of the Lanxin railway has reached town and Kashgar (or Kashi, in Chinese) has become China's westernmost railway station. I wonder how this has affected the city.

analogue print scan from my early days, hope you like it