Walk the World Series Asia: Peshawar Old City, Pakistan

Peshawar, which means "City of a Hundred Flowers" in ancient Sanskrit, is a city with a profound history and rich culture. It was once the capital of the Kushan Empire, the birthplace of Gandhara culture, and a trade center between Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East. Historically, it was one of the centers of Buddhist culture, visited successively by the Chinese Jin Dynasty monk Faxian, Northern Wei envoy Song Yun, and Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang. Xuanzang described it as a "land of abundant flowers and fruits" in his book "Great Tang Records on the Western Regions." Since the end of 2014, the security situation in Peshawar has gradually improved following the Pakistani military's "Operation Zarb-e-Azb." Located on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Peshawar is one of Pakistan's most ethnically distinctive cities and has been a major trade hub between the South Asian subcontinent and Central Asia for centuries. This unique geographical position has made Peshawar a focal point of contest among various forces. In recent years, Peshawar has been undergoing positive transformation. To attract tourists and foreign investment, Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province invested $2.5 million to renovate the Food and Heritage Street located in Peshawar's old city. This old street, featuring architecture from the 18th to 19th centuries, has been revitalized after renovation, quickly attracting a large number of local residents and tourists. The people of Peshawar are also known for their hospitality. Here, you will hardly see people wearing modern clothes like jeans and T-shirts; instead, traditional ethnic attire is common. Women mostly wear burqas, showcasing a unique cultural style. Walking through the streets of Peshawar, you will be touched by the warmth and friendliness of its people.