Gaotai Ancient Homes

Gaotai Residential Area is a Uyghur residential community built on a loess high cliff more than 40 meters high and over 800 meters long at the northeast end of the old town of Kashgar, Xinjiang. It has a history of 600 years and is a major landscape for displaying ancient Uyghur residential architecture and folk customs in Kashgar. The soul of Kashgar Old Town lies in the old town, and the essence of the old town is the Gaotai Residential Area. The 'Gaotai Residential Area' only occupies one-tenth of the area of Kashgar's old town, yet it almost encompasses all the architectural styles of the old town. Gaotai Residential Area is a Uyghur residential community built on a loess high cliff more than 40 meters high and over 800 meters long at the northeast end of the old town of Kashgar, Xinjiang, with a history of 600 years. The characteristic residential buildings here are mostly made of earth and wood, and they are important physical evidence for studying the living customs and architectural features of ethnic minorities, as well as one of the mysterious colors of Kashgar Old Town. The high cliff has existed for two thousand years, and more than a thousand years ago, Uyghur ancestors built houses and settled here. It is said that the famous Eastern Han generals Ban Chao and Geng Gong once left their footprints here. In the mid-9th century, during the Karakhanid Dynasty, the royal palace was built on the north side of this high cliff, and the current Gaotai Residential Area was built on the south cliff. Koziya Beyxi - in Uyghur, meaning 'high cliff pottery house', has developed over a thousand years of history, forming a unique residential architecture with hundreds of years of history on the high cliff. The Uyghurs of Kashgar have been living here for generations, building their houses against the cliff. As the family population increases with each generation, they add another floor on top of their ancestors' houses. Generation after generation, houses connect to houses, floors to floors, layer upon layer. A single residential house is a family history of reproduction, livelihood, rise and fall, and the continuation of descendants. The Uyghurs have a strong sense of clan, and the core of their residential culture is the attachment to home and homeland, so many residential houses have been passed down through seven or eight generations. Some large residential compounds have as many as ten or twenty rooms, with several generations living together in one courtyard, truly embodying the concept of 'four generations under one roof'. Here, you can see everywhere 'over-street houses', 'half-street houses', and 'suspended houses' built over the crossroads of alleys, which look like watchtowers or blockhouses standing in the alleys from a distance. These unplanned, randomly built houses upon houses, and houses outside houses, are arranged into deep, crisscrossing, winding, and undulating alleys of Kashgar's Gaotai Residential Area. Walking along any path inside the alley, you can see the large gates of residential courtyards built along the alley, opening against the outer wall, with each household right next to each other. Gaotai Residential Area has a strong Uyghur architectural style, which has been influenced by Islamic culture under the unique environment and natural conditions of Kashgar, and has gradually formed over hundreds of years of historical evolution. Gaotai Residential Area is rugged, densely populated, with many alleys, crisscrossing in all directions. It is praised by tourists from home and abroad as the 'living folk museum of the Uyghur people' and represents the connotation and historical heritage of Kashgar, a famous historical and cultural city in China.

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The bustling and noisy old city of Kashgar makes you want to be quiet? Don't like commercialization and want to experience the beauty of ancient city architecture? Then it's really better to cross the road to the Gaotai residential area on the opposite side. Gaotai residential area is a newly rebuilt attraction, admission is free but reservation is needed, there are few tourists inside, but the architecture is really distinctive, brick carvings and wood carvings are gorgeous and exquisite, full of Western Region style. The meaning of Gaotai residential area in Uighur language is the clay pottery people on the cliff, inside are houses connected to houses, buildings connected to buildings, layer upon layer of layout. The labyrinthine alleys and unique house architecture together constitute the residential spectacle, which is the only labyrinthine city with Uighur characteristics in China. After entering, you will find that a residential area has several exits, different exits correspond to different alleys, which is quite interesting. Want to avoid the crowd to take pictures, this place is really good.

Charter a tour of the Gaotai residences in winter There are very few tourists in the off-season, basically no one The immersive experience is really cool This is a refurbished ancient Uyghur residence It embodies the essence of earth architecture over hundreds of years Every brick and every door exudes a historical atmosphere In addition to being a great place for photo ops It is also a workshop for many intangible cultural heritages in southern Xinjiang Pottery, woodenware, Yengisar knives, mulberry paper, Bronze ware, blacksmithing, Adras, etc. Deeply appreciate, experience, understand and feel the charm of traditional culture in southern Xinjiang Fall in love with this place, like a journey through time and space

Kashgar Travel Guide Kashgar, a city full of historical and cultural heritage, its beauty and charm are irresistible. This time, I will take you to appreciate the unique style of Kashgar and step into this fascinating ancient city. Kashgar Old City Stepping into the old city of Kashgar is like traveling back to ancient times. The streets here are like a maze, but don't worry about getting lost. Remember that the road bricks are hexagonal for the main road, and the bricks are quadrilateral for the dead end. Stroll in the streets of the ancient city and feel the simplicity and tranquility. 🕌 Aitigaer Mosque The Aitigaer Mosque is one of the iconic buildings of Kashgar. Stepping into the mosque, you can feel the sanctity and solemnity. The sun shines through the dome and illuminates the entire temple, inspiring awe. Xiangfei Tomb The Tomb of Xiangfei is a tomb full of legendary colors. It is said that Xiangfei was the favorite concubine of Emperor Qianlong, and she was buried here after her death. Stepping into the Tomb of Xiangfei, it's like traveling back to that prosperous era, feeling the heaviness of history. Gaotai Residential Houses Gaotai Residential Houses is an ancient residential community in Kashgar. The architectural style here is unique, and each house is full of the traces of time. Walking in the Gaotai Residential Houses is like stepping into a historical picture scroll. 🛍️ Kashgar East Bazaar (Kashgar Central and West Asia International Trade Market) The East Bazaar of Kashgar is one of the largest trade markets in Kashgar. Here, you can buy various handicrafts, special snacks, and local specialties. Stroll around this bustling market and feel the local atmosphere of Kashgar. ️ Old City Streets In the streets of the old city, you can taste various special snacks, such as grapes, naan, and sheep milk ice cream. At the same time, there are many coffee shops and tea houses here, where you can enjoy a cup of coffee or tea in the leisurely afternoon. Travel Tips: Ticket Price: The ticket price is 30 yuan/person. Accommodation Price: The accommodation price varies depending on the guesthouse and homestay, but many guesthouses and homestays are very enthusiastic and the prices are relatively reasonable. Check-in Locations: Opening Ceremony, Century-old Teahouse, Old City Corner Coffee Shop, Aitigaer Mosque, Xiangfei Tomb, Gaotai Residential Houses, Kashgar East Bazaar and the streets of the old city. Food Recommendations: Taste various special snacks in the old city, such as grapes, naan, and sheep milk ice cream. Safety Precautions: Pay attention to personal and property safety during the trip, abide by local laws and regulations and cultural customs. Transportation: If you plan to visit multiple attractions, you can choose to charter a car or rent a car; if you are just planning to visit individual attractions, you can choose to take a bus or taxi. Sun and Heat Protection: Kashgar has strong sunlight, so you need to do a good job of sun and heat protection, bring a sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen, etc. Take Photos: Remember to take more photos during the trip!

🌟Highlights: The Gaotai Houses are located at the northeast end of the ancient city of Kashgar, built on a loess cliff over 40 meters high and more than 800 meters long, with a history of more than 600 years. The Uighur people have lived here for generations, and the houses are built along the cliff, forming the ancient loess ruins we see today. Only here can you truly feel the pulse of ancient Kashgar from the unique houses. Since it was closed for construction in 2016, it has now reopened. In this renovation of the old city, no large-scale renovation has been carried out, and the most authentic historical appearance is still retained, which has become the last group of loess buildings in Kashgar today. 👍Most recommended: Gaotai Houses, Uighur name 'Kuiziqiyabeixi Lane', meaning clay pottery on the cliff, praised by Chinese and foreign tourists as 'the living folk museum of the Uighur people'. As the only remaining loess building group in Kashgar, the architecture here represents a natural architectural aesthetics, which is the simplest expression in architecture. All the renovated buildings in the scenic area are based on the original terrain and architecture for renovation, decorated without breaking the historical appearance. The lanes in the ancient city are crisscrossed and randomly built between the buildings, like a huge maze. The traditional Uighur residents who have lived here for generations have all supported their families with one craft. These crafts have been passed down and inherited, forming nearly twenty intangible cultural heritages, such as clay pottery, leather hats, wooden utensils, medicinal tea, jam, weaving workshops, Yingjisha small knives, soil yogurt, printed and dyed cloth, copperware, musical instruments, blacksmithing and other handicraft industries, so most of the renovated houses in the city have become small shops with folk customs. ✅In the second half of the city, there are still the weather-beaten residential ruins, and you can go up to the high platform to see the whole view. The Gaotai Houses Scenic Area is a mirror of the cultural changes in Kashgar over the generations. Every inch of land here is filled with the rich folk culture of Kashgar. The reopening not only presents the historical folk culture of Kashgar more intuitively to the public, but also allows this intangible cultural heritage that the Uighur people are proud of to be better continued. 🎫Ticket information: Currently free to enter and visit, it takes about 1.5-2 hours to go around. It is recommended to watch the opening ceremony of the East City Gate, and then go to the Gaotai Houses, so you can avoid the flow of people to the ancient city. 🚉Traffic strategy: The Gaotai Houses are diagonally opposite the east gate of the ancient city of Kashgar, and it takes seven or eight minutes to walk. Take bus No. 20, No. 6, etc. in Kashgar city and get off at Liangyashi Market Station, and walk about 500 meters to get there.

📍Located right across from the old city of Kashgar, it is said to have been fully repaired and opened to the public this year, and currently no admission fee is required. 🕌This used to be an old residential area with a history of over 600 years, very characteristic of the local area, and very photogenic. In addition to the old houses, there are also local specialty products, such as pottery and the like, with QR codes that can be scanned for explanations. Some houses can be climbed to see the view, you might find a good spot. 📸The deepest part retains some relics, which are the appearance of the earth houses before the renovation, which are still very characteristic. 👍I personally think it is quieter here than in the old city of Kashgar. Gaotai Houses Old City of Kashgar

The GaoTai houses are located in the northeast of the old city of Kashgar, built on a loess cliff over 40 meters high and more than 800 meters long, formed in the 16th century. In Uighur, GaoTai houses are called 'Kuoku Siya Beixi', which means 'pot on the cliff'. The houses here are made of mud and poplar, and there are overpass buildings, small alleys, and workshops everywhere, and there are earthen buildings everywhere. Now it has not officially opened after the transformation. There are already some shops in operation and can be visited. However, some areas are still under renovation.

The tomb of Apokhaho (the tomb of Tomb of the Tomb) is lonely, the history of Kashgar, the mosques of Etihad and the high-rise houses, what is the old town of Muir and Khamman Bazar, the place is said to have been spent by the government. Silver is a new AAAA-level scenic spot, but I don't recommend it. You see, the Ferris wheel by the Tuman River. How many people are there to sit? There is also the Central and Western Asia International Grand Bazaar, just buy and buy dried fruit, just what history, humanities and folk customs, you do not expect to see.

When did the rise of Kashgar start? I am not able to learn more about it. Buddhism was introduced to Xinjiang in the 1st century AD. The Buddhist civilization, the Indian civilization, the Greek civilization and the Chinese civilization collided and merged at the intersection of the north and south of the Silk Road, creating a city of pearls, Kashgar. Kash, like the mysterious dreamland, the stunning western town, walked into her, as if walking into a deep but colorful world of aliens. The surface of the ruined high-rise houses, in fact, the interior is still full of vitality, the old man sitting quietly along the wall, enjoying the baptism of the Qur'an in the sun, the children in the alley are playing, accidentally laughing and drifting away, wrapped Women with beautiful headscarves sit on the bed in the courtyard, or busy with the work in their hands, or chat and gossip. Every day that the old city has passed away is deeply printed on the stone steps. Even the dome of the Xingyue Castle, the gorgeous tapestry and the golden pillars seem to be fixed at a certain time in the distant history. And I am just a spectator of this solid history.

The Gaotai residence is located at the northeastern tip of the old town of Kashgar. Only here, you can truly feel the pulse of the ancient Kashgar from the strange houses. The Uighurs here live in generations, and the houses are built on the cliffs. The generations are one generation, the rooms are connected, the buildings are connected, and the floors are stacked.