Kashgar: A Journey Through Xinjiang's Ancient Silk Road City

Xinjiang is by far China’s most restricted region. For many years, it was nearly impossible for foreigners to visit. Today, the situation has become a little more relaxed — so I decided to fly into Kashgar, China’s westernmost city.

Kashgar has a history of over 2,000 years and was once a key trading hub along the ancient Silk Road. But these days, the city makes headlines for very different reasons. Once the cradle of Uyghur culture, it’s now a place where Uyghur people face heavy restrictions in practicing their religion and preserving their traditions. At the same time, the Chinese government has transformed the city into a tourist hotspot for mainland visitors.

In this video, I wanted to find out whether the situation is really as severe as Western media claim. I couldn’t directly ask locals for their opinions, as it wouldn’t have been safe for them — but I witnessed the transformation of the city with my own eyes.