The Silk Road lives on in Kashgar

The Old Town is entirely populated by the Uyghur ethnic group, and the houses take on distinct cultural characteristics. "Almost every Uyghur house has a small courtyard, even the houses in Kashgar's Old Town," explained Imam Husan, an ethnic Uyghur who runs the tour business, Kashgar Guide. "They have a grape shelf and keep figs, pomegranates, and flowers in pots to help to cool down the house and keep flies away."

The Chinese government is investing in the distinct appearance of Kashgar's Old Town. Many of its buildings are aging and in need of renovations. The government is slowly rebuilding the historical neighborhoods, replacing each building with a new, stronger construction, but with the same traditional beauty. "My dream is to have a home like that, right in the old town," Husan declared, pointing at a new two-story house with arched wooden doorways and windows.

Kashgar's Uyghur culture is a bridge between the fascinating Middle Eastern Islamic civilization and Chinese stability and development; travelers can wander the streets, feeling free to engage with locals and enjoy the Uyghur hospitality.

The movie version of the American best-selling book The Kite Runner, set in Kabul, Afghanistan, was filmed in Kashgar, proving that the city is the secure way to venture into the Middle East, and at times, visitors could truly confuse the look of the two locales.

But perhaps the best thing about the streets of Kashgar is the food culture. The scent of lamb and fresh bread permeates the air.

In the evenings, groups of men congregate on large carpets dragged onto the sidewalk for tea and conversation.