Finally, we reached our terminal stop: Kashgar(喀什, formerly 疏勒 in Chinese history), the westernmost city of China, near the border with four neighboring countries of middle Asia, and close in connection with another four.  Over 80% of the population here are Muslim Uyghurs, and less than 20% are Han people.  In 2010, China decided that Kashgar was her sixth Free Economic Zone, and now it is a prosperous new city.

Before making a city tour in Kashgar, we proceeded to "Stone City" somewhere in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County(abbreviated as 塔縣 in Chinese) near the Pamir Mountains(帕米爾高原; I would call it with its traditional Chinese name: 蔥嶺).  The "City" is a large stone castle, having been there long before the Tang Dynasty. The Stone City has become a well-preserved site of ruins in Pamir. In this vast mountainous area, some territories of the plateau are still subject to being ascertained among Tajik, Pakistan, and China.

In Kashgar, there is a royal mausoleum of Uyghur ruling families includes, reputedly, the legendary Xiang Fei(Fragrant concubine of Emperor Qianlong during the mid-18th century after the Qing Dynasty conquered the whole of Xinjiang).  Well, a legend is a legend, and let the dramatist and novelist give her a vivid life again.

We also spent some time in the Ancient City of Kashgar, surrounded by four-sided walls.  There were dancing ceremonies before opening the main gate to welcome tourists.  We strolled along the "main" streets of the town but soon found it too commercialized to be worth a visit anymore.  So, we decided to take a look at the residential areas.  But when we entered the lanes and alleys, we found we got lost in a labyrinth of two-storied houses of the same type and the same color of yellowish brown.  Then we met a little Uyghur girl about 12 or 13 years old and asked her to show us the way out.  She wanted us to stay put and said she would get back to us after taking care of some errands.  Five minutes later, she showed up and led us back to the main street.  Thanking for her help, I tried to give her ten dollars as a token of appreciation, but she declined the offer, firmly but politely.  What a good girl she is!  (She can speak fluent Mandarin, too.)