Kashgar natives open homes, hearts to immersive travelers

Renovation of ancient city's old town provides locals with more opportunities to benefit from Xinjiang's tourism boom

A cursory glance at any guide to Kashgar will undoubtedly advise a stroll through the ancient city's labyrinthine alleys and loess mound mudstone buildings, and to take tea at a 100-year-old teahouse.

But for a truly authentic experience in this oasis city, which lies in the south of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, put down that book and instead turn to those who know it best－the people who call it home.

Salametgul Khari's homestay in Kashgar is a delicately painted three-story house with a good-sized yard. On warm days, groups of tourists can often be found standing under the shade of its 60-year-old fig tree, laughing and chattering as they try their best to learn a traditional Uygur folk dance.

Khari's friends and family call her Guli, the Uygur word for flower. Last year, the 31-year-old was the first person in the city to open a homestay: Guli's Home. The business has since made a name for itself as the go-to place for visitors wanting to experience the real Kashgar.

Often called immersive travel, the opportunity to live or work like locals has gained popularity as travelers look for more than a standard package holiday.

How do people live? What do they eat? What is a normal day like? Today's traveler is no longer content with being shown something－they want to live it.

In this far northwestern corner of China, dozens of families have followed Guli's example and opened their homes and workshops to out-of-towners. The mood is positive. The local government is happy that tourism is increasing, and residents are not only benefiting but also playing an active role in its success.

There has been a settlement on the site of Kashgar for more than 2,000 years.

It is no stranger to visitors－it was an important trading post on the ancient Silk Road that linked China, the Middle East and Europe. The city is now inhabited by 34 ethnic groups, with Uygurs accounting for 85.6 percent of its population.

Kashgar's old town is home to the world's largest earthen architectural complex. Over the past eight years, 7 billion yuan ($1.02 billion) has been channeled into a huge renovation project, rendering the buildings earthquake-proof while maintaining their traditional charm.

Around 220,000 people live in this dynamic part of the city, and they are known for their laid-back attitude and bustling bazaars, which heave with local food, handicrafts, antiques and jewelry.