annashay 
The ancient city of Kashi, or Kashgar, needs no introduction. On September 11, we were in this captivating and historic city as I mentioned in my previous article, I felt a strange emotional connection with it. It seemed as if I were not in a foreign country, but in some familiar part of Pakistan. A warm and comforting feeling surrounded me. It was our first day in Kashgar. After breakfast, the day’s activities were about to begin. Our first program was to attend the Opening Ceremony. But before describing that, I would like to present a brief introduction to Kashgar’s historical and cultural background, particularly its Islamic significance. Kashgar is one of China’s oldest cities and has historically been a central hub on the great Silk Road. Its history spans thousands of years and it has always been an important center of culture, trade and religion. The name Kashgar appears in Chinese, Persian, Arabic, and Turkic sources. The city has been continuously inhabited for over two thousand years. Historically, it served as a crossroads for caravans traveling between East and West linking China with South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. Even today, the concept of the Silk Road remains alive here, representing the same spirit of exchange and connection. Throughout its history, Kashgar has been a melting pot of civilizations, religions and ethnicities. Followers of Buddhism, Islam and other faiths came here, leaving their cultural imprint still visible in the city’s architecture and heritage.
For a Pakistani Muslim, this city holds deep emotional meaning, as Islam reached here in the 7th century CE when Arab Muslims entered Central Asia. Soon after, Kashgar became a major center of Islamic learning and culture. Today, the majority of its population comprises Uyghur Muslims, a Turkic ethnic group whose language belongs to the Turkic family. The city’s culture in dress, food, and music reflects strong influences from Turkey, Central Asian Republic and the Arab world. When we set out for the opening ceremony, the first thing that caught my attention was the old mud-brick architecture and the historic streets and bazaars beautifully preserved by the Chinese government as part of its cultural heritage. We were also informed about the shrines of Sufi saints whose spiritual presence has further sanctified the city’s atmosphere. The Opening Ceremony in Kashgar is held twice a day at 9:30 am and 6 pm lasting about 20 minutes. It features colorful performances of traditional Uyghur music and dance, expressing the richness of local culture. Thousands of locals and tourists gather to witness the spectacle.
In the background, beautiful Central Asian music played as women dressed in traditional attire performed graceful dances. Then came a caravan of camels symbolizing the historical significance of the Silk Road. Everyone eagerly captured these stunning moments with their cameras. I was accompanied by my fellow delegate Ismail Mukhtar from Somalia and Bojlanda from Albania and we took photos together. The ceremony symbolically represents the “opening of the city gates,” meaning Kashgar welcoming its guests. Through music and dance, the city’s history and culture are revived every day. For me, this experience was entirely new witnessing a city’s symbolic “opening,” something absent in our own culture. It was a unique and memorable occasion. What impressed me most about the ancient atmosphere of Kashgar were its colors, music and traditional costumes a beautiful reminder of the fusion between Turkish culture and Islamic heritage.
Our next stop was the Kindergarten Village, located at village 14 Nazarbarg town . There, we saw small workshops showcasing traditional craftsmanship especially Uyghur knife-making, which closely resembles Ottoman Turkish designs. We also visited blacksmiths’ shops where weapons were being made using traditional methods.
Later, we went to the local market, where people were busy with their daily trading. The streets were beautifully decorated and everywhere we saw kind and smiling faces reflecting Kashgar’s hospitality. After that, we were taken to a traditional Uyghur house where a musical gathering had been arranged. We were served local sweets, dates, traditional snacks, and green tea. The environment was lively with traditional music and dance continuing and several delegates also joined in. To my pleasant surprise, I met a Pakistani businessman who lives in Kashgar. He told me that he is happily doing business in partnership with Chinese associates, enjoying peace and stability. The event was full of joy and energy truly, music and dance bring freshness to any environment. After this cultural experience, we attended a lecture and discussion on “Economic Development and Improvement in Quality of Life.” The lecture was delivered by Mr. Abdukeyom Salam, who highlighted ongoing economic initiatives in the region and answered participants’ questions. Our next visit was to Xinjiang Zhong Nong High-Tech Bio-Science Company a biotechnology firm conducting research on growing seawater rice. Their aim is to make barren lands cultivable and increase farmers’ income.
This modern project uses advanced irrigation techniques such as drip irrigation to minimize water wastage and employs special drainage and soil improvement systems to remove excess salts from the soil. During the visit, we saw clean, well-organized experimental fields and rice cultivation in progress. We also toured the factory, where we were shown how the harvested rice is processed and packaged. The staff explained each stage in detail. Thus, our first day in Kashgar was extremely informative, enriching, and full of learning a beautiful blend of observation, knowledge and discovery. After returning to the hotel, we had dinner and later, my Albanian friend Bojlanda and I went for a walk on the hotel’s beautiful balcony. We were joined by a Spanish delegate an intelligent and delightful personality. As we gazed at the illuminated skyline of Kashgar, one thought came to mind China is rapidly progressing. Whether it’s the modern city of Shanghai or the ancient city of Kashgar, both represent a nation steadily advancing on the path of development and stability. Indeed, the mark of a great nation is that it preserves its cultural and historical roots while moving forward with progress and innovation.
