China News Network Xinjiang News, June 12 (Chen Zhaolin) From April 29 to May 3, the scenic area of Kashgar Ancient City received 254,900 tourists, an increase of 136.25% over 2019 and 226.45% over 2022. During this year's "May Day" period, the ancient city of Kashgar has become the preferred destination for tourists from all over the world.
Why is the ancient city of Kashgar, with a history of thousands of years, rejuvenated and fascinating?
A. Protection governance is new
In early summer, walking into the ancient city of Kashgar, I saw that under the cover of "willows on the edge of the city, green and green on the mulberry", hundreds of crisscrossing laneways and winding paths, simple characteristic buildings cascading and exquisite window mullions...
For a long time, with the passage of time, many houses in the ancient city of Kashgar are old and difficult to withstand the damage of rain, snow and earthquakes.
The ancient city of Kashgar. Photo by Wu Yong
After the launch of the shantytown renovation project in Kashgar, the comprehensive management of the protection of the ancient city of Kashgar entered the fast lane. In just a few years, the renovation project of dangerous old houses in the ancient city with a total investment of more than 7 billion yuan and an area of 8 square kilometers has been fully completed, and the infrastructure such as water, electricity, gas, roads, networks and greening has been fully improved, and the living environment of more than 200,000 people has been completely renewed.
In the process of comprehensive management of the protection of the ancient city of Kashgar, the government fully listened to the opinions of residents in accordance with the principle of "repairing the old as the old", and adopted the method of "one household, one design", so as to maintain the original style of the ancient city, meet the wishes of residents, ensure the safety of houses and resist earthquakes, and retain the characteristics of the residential buildings of the ancient city to the greatest extent.
Oil Painting Street. Photo by Chen Kaiyan
Today, unique wood carvings, iron craftsmanship and paintings can be seen everywhere in the crisscrossing laneways, and more than 7,000 traditional houses with historical and cultural value have been restored and strengthened on the basis of retaining the original spatial pattern. After visiting the ancient city of Kashgar, UNESCO officials spoke highly of the comprehensive management project for the protection of the ancient city.
B scenic spot created to promote the name
The comprehensive management of the protection of the ancient city allows residents to "live in peace", and the creation of scenic spots allows residents to "work happily". In the process of comprehensive management of the protection of the ancient city, the relevant government departments focus on improving the comprehensive functions of the ancient city, vigorously developing commerce and tourism, and enhancing the "hematopoietic function" of local residents to find employment and become rich. In 2015, Kashgar Ancient City was awarded the National 5A Tourist Scenic Spot.
Flower pot bazaar, blacksmith bazaar, hat bazaar, handicraft bazaar... As the core brand of all-round tourism in Kashgar, Kashgar Ancient City deeply explores the rich connotation of intangible cultural heritage, actively explores new business formats such as "intangible cultural heritage + homestay", "intangible cultural heritage + cultural creativity", "intangible cultural heritage + performing arts" and "intangible cultural heritage + festival", strives to enrich the supply of tourism products, extends the cultural tourism industry chain, not only increases the income of the masses, but also launches the tourism brand.
Taha Lane Tour Auction Street. Photo by Chen Kaiyan
With the increasing fame of the ancient city of Kashgar, domestic and foreign tourists come to visit, and checking in in the ancient city of Kashgar has become a "must" for them to play. During this year's May Day holiday, the ancient city of Kashgar received 254,900 tourists.
While the number of tourists in Kashgar during the "May Day" holiday has increased significantly, the quality of tourism consumption is also steadily improving. Gao Lianxiang, the operator of the "Hidden Lotus Residence" homestay in the ancient city of Kashgar, said that as a tourism practitioner, it is necessary to operate in accordance with the law and operate in good faith, "We want tourists to feel the enthusiasm and integrity of Kashgar people." ”
Du Haoyu, a tourist from Shandong, said: "The ancient and modern ancient city of Kashgar has a very good sense of experience, and I feel very happy playing in the ancient city, eating in the ancient city, and living in the ancient city." In Kashgar, I felt the local customs and people, and I had a deeper understanding of Kashgar's long history and antique culture. ”
Nowadays, every day, tourists from all over the world stroll through the ancient city of Kashgar, which is crisscrossed by streets and alleys, winding and shaped like a labyrinth, to experience the whole process of handmade musical instruments, taste authentic Xinjiang lamb kebabs, grilled buns, pilaf, fully enjoy the original form, architectural style, folk culture and humanistic customs of the ancient city, and feel the Silk Road heritage in this thousand-year-old city.
C Cultural tourism integrates hometown feelings
Between the lanes, children frolic and play; Under the eaves, old people chatted about homely things. For the residents of the ancient city, the ancient city is like a heavy book, and there are always endless stories in it. Childhood frolicked and chased here, and when they grew up, they went out to study and live, and their memories and dreams were intertwined here.
"Our family has been engaged in traditional wood carving for generations." Usiman Aheiti, a 40-year-old resident of the ancient city, has been learning the traditional Uyghur woodcarving craft for more than 20 years, and now has several shops in the ancient city, and tourists bring his processed ethnic crafts to various places, which makes him proudest. "I hope more and more people will come to my hometown." Usman Aheiti said.
Tourists check in and take photos in the ancient city of Kashgar. Photo by Wang Yuzhen
"When I returned to my hometown, I was very interested in cultural and creative products, and secondly, I saw the broad development prospects of Kashgar." Maiwulan Turak, who attended university in Jiangxi for 6 years, said. After graduation, she returned to the ancient city of Kashgar and opened a retro photo experience hall, a small shop of about 20 square meters, displaying T-shirts, cloth bags and various vintage jewelry, which carries her expectations for the future and her deep affection for her hometown.
The long history represents the past, and only by connecting with the times can we move towards the future. The ancient city of Kashgar, a place where a sense of history and modernity blend, condenses historical memories, pins people's homesickness, and attracts more and more young people to stay in the ancient city to start businesses. Travel photo shops, cultural and creative shops, characteristic homestays... Young, thoughtful and creative shops have sprung up, bringing fresh vitality to the thousand-year-old city.
In recent years, Kashgar has actively integrated into the national "One Belt, One Road" strategy, focusing on the six elements of "food, accommodation, travel, shopping and entertainment", integrating tourism resources, and striving to build a tourist attraction and historical and cultural city with rich resources, diverse cultures, magnificent scenery and rich folk characteristics.
At present, with the arrival of the tourist season, Kashgar Ancient City focuses on building homestays, handicraft production, tasting special food and other projects, and attracts more tourists to experience the infinite charm of the thousand-year-old city with better tourism services, better tourism experience and better tourism environment.