[2025 Shache Attraction] Travel Guide for Tombs of The Yarkand Khans (Updated Apr)

Shache, a thousand-year-old ancient city located in the southwestern border of Xinjiang, is an important post station on the ancient Silk Road. 📍Detailed address: Shache County is located on the western edge of the Taklimakan Desert, about 200 kilometers away from Kashgar City. It is an important transportation hub in southern Xinjiang and an important birthplace of Uyghur culture. 🚉Transportation strategy: 🚂Train: Departing from Kashgar Station, there are multiple trains every day, the ticket price is 22.5-28.5 yuan, and the journey takes about 2 hours. 🚙Self-driving: The Kashgar-Shache Expressway is open, and the journey takes about 2.5 hours. You can enjoy the scenery of the Southern Xinjiang Gobi Desert along the way. 🗓One-day tour itinerary: [One] Yingjisha County Earthenware Village 🏺 Yingjisha County Earthenware Village Scenic Area), 15 kilometers away from Shache County, visit Shache intangible cultural heritage - Uyghur traditional earthenware workshop, watch potters making pottery by hand, and experience DIY pottery making. [Two] Yarkand Khan Palace 🕌Yarkand Khan Palace Shache County Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo Park Visit the palace buildings from the Yarkand Khanate period and experience the traditional Uyghur architectural art and court culture. [Three] Yarkand Khanate Mausoleum 🕍Amanisa Khan Memorial Mausoleum Visit the mausoleum complex where 12 Khans are buried, and listen to the legendary story of Princess Amanishahan and the Twelve Muqams. [Four] Shache Old Town⛪️Old Town Scenic Area Shache Ancient City Gate Old Town Scenic Area Kazanqi Street Stroll along Kazanqi Street, experience the urban life in southern Xinjiang, check in at the century-old teahouse, and taste the local special teas. 🌟Highlights: 1⃣It is recommended to watch the Twelve Muqam performance in the evening🎸. At the Shache Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum or the Old Town Square, you can enjoy the Twelve Muqam, known as the "Pearl of Oriental Music", and immerse yourself in the charm of Uyghur music and dance. 2⃣ Pottery making experience ⚱, shape and paint patterns by yourself, and take away a unique pottery souvenir (the experience lasts about 1 hour and costs about 50-100 yuan). [Tableware] Restaurant recommendations: Lunch recommendation: Muqam Hometown Restaurant in Shache County: Taste Shache’s special pigeon feast (roasted pigeon, pigeon soup, pigeon noodles), the meat is tender and the aftertaste is endless. In addition to the pigeon feast, you can try Shache’s special desserts (yogurt rice dumplings, almond ice cream [Taro]). Take in the thousand-year-old splendor of Shache in one day. From palaces to pottery villages, from camel bells to muqam, Shache tells the story of the ancient city of the Silk Road with its unique rhythm.

The Amanisa Khan Memorial Mausoleum is located in the center of Shache County and in the Mausoleum of the King of Yarkand Khan. It combines the essence of ancient and modern Islamic architecture into one, with a unique architectural style. It is a must-see tourist attraction in Shache. Travel during off-peak hours, so you don’t have to squeeze with other people. Just thinking about it makes me happy‼ ️ Amanisa Khan (1534-1568), the wife of Abdureshit, the second Khan of the Yarkand Khanate, and an outstanding Uyghur female poet in the 15th century. She entered the palace at the age of 13 and died of childbirth complications at the age of 34. The Khan wrote a mourning poem for her and died three years later due to excessive grief. The Twelve Muqams, which she spent 20 years compiling and creating, is famous both at home and abroad and has been included in the third list of the Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It is a rare treasure of Uyghur music and dance art. 🌈Highlights: ✅The mausoleum is 22 meters high. It is built on a square base that is 2 meters high, 10 meters wide and 10 meters long. The top of the mausoleum is in the shape of a round tower. The names of the twelve sets of "Mukham" are inlaid on the walls of the mausoleum palace. ✅The 20 columns are beautifully carved, representing that it took Amanisa Khan 20 years to complete the "Twelve Muqams", and the 34 lotus flowers represent her death at the age of 34. ✅The mausoleum is very delicately decorated with printed tiles and surrounded by poems written by Amanisa Khan. 🎫Tickets: 15 yuan, including the Amanisa Khan Memorial Mausoleum, the Yarkand King Mausoleum, and the Altun Mosque 🚗Transportation: Navigation🧭Drive to

After a few days of rest and team formation in Kashgar, we finally began the first day of the G219 Xinjiang-Tibet Highway on September 6. Today, we arrived in Yecheng, the zero-kilometer starting point of the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway is here. On the way, we also passed through Shache, a small town full of exotic charm. Unlike Kashgar, it has fewer tourists and commercialization (the people eating barbecue at the stalls are all locals). Shache County is the largest almond production base in the country, known as the hometown of almonds in China, with ethnic minorities accounting for more than 95% of the population. It has a history of more than 3,000 years. It was a famous tribal kingdom in the Western Regions, successively known as the Kingdom of Shache, the Kingdom of Qusha, and the Yarkand Khanate. The Yarkand Khanate Palace is not open to the public, so we could only check in from the outside, but the Amannisa Khan Tomb is very beautiful. Yecheng also has a 'City of Sitiya Ruins.' 'Sitiya' translates to 'Immortal Cliff' in Chinese. The ruins are estimated to date back to the Tang Dynasty, but this still needs to be verified. However, it is now just an artificial landscape, seemingly a local open activity venue. We happened to catch them holding an event, and then watched the 'Baduanjin' competition between various villages and teams on site for a while. Surprisingly, this is also popular in Xinjiang.

On the land of Shache, every inch is filled with stories. Today, let's delve into the depths of Yarkand's history and feel the traces carved by time. First, the Yarkand Royal Tomb is known for its simplicity. 🏛️ Unlike the luxurious royal tombs inland, the royal tombs here share the same resting place with the nobles and ministers, without elaborate burial items. This simple style reflects a detached attitude towards power and wealth, which is admirable. 👏 Next, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo Park (Yarkand Royal Palace) is still under renovation, and we can only catch a glimpse from the outside. ⚒️ This palace, which has witnessed countless historical changes, is gradually restoring its former glory. Each renovation is a respect for the past and an expectation for the future. 👀 Azna Mosque, a religious sanctuary built in the Ming Dynasty, though dilapidated, remains solemn and majestic. ⛪️ Although it is currently not open to the public, its existence itself is a testament to history, making one imagine the grand scenes of faith in those days. Walking under the ancient city walls of Shache, it feels like hearing the echoes of history. 🏺 These walls have witnessed many battles and peaces, with each stone engraved with the marks of time, telling stories of the past and present. Finally, the site where Xuanzang returned west to preach, was once a place where thousands listened to the Dharma. 📚 Here, Master Xuanzang's wisdom and compassion condensed into sound waves, traversing time and space, still resonating in people's hearts today. Standing here, it feels like hearing that loud and peaceful voice, guiding lost souls to find direction. Shache, this land full of stories, awaits every traveler's exploration. 🌟 Let us move forward with reverence and curiosity, for every step is a cleansing of the soul, and every pause is a heritage of history.

I stayed in Shache for two days. The last few pictures are the guide posted by the youth hostel where I stayed. You can make your own plans according to your own situation. It would be great if I could ride an electric scooter, sad. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

The biggest feeling when walking in southern Xinjiang is that there seems to be a stage everywhere, and you can see people dancing and singing at any time. It's not the kind of stage that is deliberately built, but just an open space. Suddenly everyone gets in the mood, and they gather to sing and dance for a while, and life is very joyful. There is an ancient street in the old city of Shache County, called the Karakax Historical and Cultural Street, adjacent to the Tomb of the Yarkand Khan. The old street is very lively, and you can eat from one end to the other. On the old street, you can enjoy the performance of the Twelve Mukam dances and songs, taste various local delicacies, and buy unique local handicrafts. The Karakax old street was formed in 1870. In the Uyghur language, 'Karakax' means 'a person who makes a living by casting pots'. Karakax old street got its name because it historically gathered a large number of folk craftsmen who made and sold iron and copper pots; now, Karakax street is a characteristic alley that integrates various folk skills such as food, handicrafts, and tea culture.

|You should come to the Mausoleum of the Yarkand Khanate to feed the pigeons once. When you come to Kashgar, Xinjiang, you can go to Shache County. Shache is a county town in the Kashgar region. It has houses and palaces that are different from those in Kashgar. Shache is also a historical city. The cultural customs here will give you a different experience. You can also feed pigeons in the scenic area and there are performances (if you want to watch the show, it is recommended to find out the performance time before going there to avoid missing it) Opening time: Don’t go too early, I remember it opens at ten o’clock Tickets🎫: 30 yuan (three attractions, the scenic area is holding an event, this price is half price)

❤Recommended reason: Shache County Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo Park is a cultural and artistic courtyard building that integrates modern architectural art with folk architectural style. The entire building integrates 'Uyghur ethnic characteristics, Central Asian culture, and classical architecture'. The so-called Shache Palace is a popular term for tourists, but in fact, it consists of two parts: the Shache Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo Park and the Yarkand Khan Royal Mausoleum. The Yarkand Khan Royal Mausoleum, also known as Aletun Mazar, 'Aletun' means 'gold' in Chinese, and 'Mazar' means 'tomb'. The entire mausoleum covers an area of 1050 square meters, was founded in 1533, and after a century of expansion, it has reached its current size. The mausoleum houses the founders of the Yarkand Khanate and members of the royal family for 11 generations. The Yarkand Khan Royal Mausoleum is unique in its layout and pattern decoration and is an excellent example of Islamic architectural art. It is of great historical value for understanding the political, economic conditions, living habits, and burial methods of the time. Currently, the mausoleum is well-preserved. 🌟Highlights: There are many exhibition halls inside, displaying various Xinjiang characteristics and fully reflecting the ethnic culture; The architectural style is unique and very beautiful; There are song and dance performances in the courtyard, and in southern Xinjiang, there is no shortage of performances, they are really everywhere! 🕙Opening hours: 10:30-19:30 💰Ticket price: 35 yuan 👍Most recommended: The 'Dawazi' performance on the square is wonderful 🤓 'Dawazi' is an ancient traditional acrobatic performance art of the Uyghur people. 'Da' in Uyghur means 'suspended in the air', and 'Wazi' refers to a person who is keen on doing something. The term 'Dawazi' is borrowed from the Persian 'Darbari', which means high-wire walking performance. 📝Note tips: Opposite the Expo Park is the Yarkand Khan Royal Mausoleum, which charges separately!

Yarkand, a place with a history of three thousand years, was once the location of the thirty-six countries of the Western Regions. Here is a representative building - Yarkand Khan Palace. The rebuilt palace is golden and splendid, full of strong ethnic customs, as if it can take you to the Silk Road in an instant. Entering the Yarkand Khan Palace, you will be attracted by its unique architectural style. The building is mainly in earthy yellow, giving people a strong visual impact. Every detail is full of historical atmosphere, as if you can feel the prosperity and brilliance of the former Qu Sha country and Yarkand Khan country. Here, you can appreciate various exquisite artworks and handicrafts, understand the local history and culture. At the same time, you can also experience the local food and folk customs, feel the unique charm different from modern cities. If you like history and culture, then Yarkand Khan Palace is definitely a place you can't miss. Let's explore this mysterious and charming palace together!

📍The Yarkand Khan Palace, an exotic palace 200 kilometers away from the ancient city of Kashgar The Tomb of the Yarkand Khan King is located to the north of Altun Delwaz between the old city and the new city of Yarkand County, Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang. It was a royal mausoleum during the Yarkand Khanate period. It was first built in 1533 to commemorate Sai Yi. It was built by Suli Tang Said, the first Khan of the German Dynasty. Thousands of years ago, it was the Yarkand Khanate that dominated the Western Regions. It was decorated with unique and excellent architectural craftsmanship of Islam. However, in fact, due to the coexistence of political regimes and multiple serious sectarian struggles, the kingdom has long since fallen apart. The real Yarkand Khanate has The palace of the Erqiang Khan was destroyed by war in Junggar, another country in the Western Regions, as early as the period of the Yerqiang Khanate. The glory has faded, leaving traces of time here. The current palace was re-expanded and restored by Shache County at a cost of 💰300 million✒️✍🏻 based on historical records. Because Yarkand is located between Taklimakan and Dawakun Gobi, it is often called the palace in the desert. The palace is actually not very big, but it is extremely exquisite. It is mainly blue and yellow and looks very unique. The symmetry of the patterns and the regular ordering of the patterns give people a sense of entering a world where a kaleidoscope can change. The courtyards, roofs, corridors, walls, and colors all exude a unique and exotic style. Photo Features📷: The blue contrast photo in the corridor is very nice👍 Clothes 👚: Wear red, yellow, white solid color style clothes Ticket🎫: 35/person Opening hours⏰: (10:30~20:00) Transportation route 🚄: The Kashgar train is a round trip on the same day, the green train ticket price is 28.5 yuan Introduction to the scenic spot: The Yarkand Khan Kingdom was one of the thirty-six kingdoms in the Western Regions. It was founded in 1514 and destroyed in 1680, which lasted 166 years. Yarkand is its capital, full of rich Central Asian and Western Region customs. It was rebuilt based on historical records at a cost of 300 million yuan. It is also the hometown of almonds in the country. Reasons for recommendation🌟🌟🌟: 👉👍There are two Twelve Muqam song and dance performances every day, at 12:00 and 17:30. Friends from Sheniu can come on stage to interact and dance together