Kashgar

History

How the city came to be

Kashgar, ancient Shule, was the capital of Shule, one of the thirty-six states of the Western Regions under the Han dynasty. After Zhang Qian opened up the Western Regions, Shule became the junction of the Silk Road's northern and southern routes, and Ban Chao was long stationed here while he managed the Western Regions. Under the Tang it belonged to the Shule garrison of the Anxi Protectorate, one of the "Four Garrisons of Anxi". After the 10th century, with the Karakhanid dynasty and the eastward spread of Islamic culture, Kashgar became southern Xinjiang's religious and commercial centre, and the Abakh Khoja Tomb (the Fragrant Concubine Tomb) and the Id Kah Mosque were built in succession. The Qing established the Kashgar Circuit; after Zuo Zongtang recovered Xinjiang and the province was founded, Kashgar became the key town of Xinjiang's western frontier. After the founding of the People's Republic, Kashgar became the seat of the prefectural administration, and in 2010 the Kashgar Economic Development Zone was established, enjoying special economic policies.

1. 2nd century BCShule is one of the thirty-six states of the Western Regions; the Silk Road's northern and southern routes meet here
2. After AD 73Ban Chao manages the Western Regions; Shule becomes an important support point of the Han dynasty's Protectorate of the Western Regions
3. 7th centuryXuanzang passes through Shule, as recorded in the Great Tang Records on the Western Regions
4. 10th centuryIslam is introduced to Kashgar in the Karakhanid era
5. 1431(one account says the mid-15th century) The Id Kah Mosque is first built, and expanded many times afterwards
6. 1678In the era of the Abakh Khoja regime, Kashgar becomes southern Xinjiang's religious and political centre
7. 1884Xinjiang is made a province; the Kashgar Circuit is established
8. 2010Kashgar establishes an economic development zone, and the renovation of the old city's dilapidated housing advances