Urumqi is the capital of Xinjiang, but the heart of Eastern Turkestan for all the Uighurs is the city of Kashgar. It is in this city that the traditional way, customs and culture of the entire Uyghur people were preserved for thousands of years. Without a doubt, the Chinese policy of modernisation and China-isation has changed the face of the ancient Kashgar and today, with the exception of the old part of the city, it has become the most modern city of the Silk Road. Under the pretext of safety issue the original part of the city is being taken down. Houses here are made with clay, they are very unstable and not set for evacuation. However like any other ancient city in China Kashgar’s old town, in my opinion, is being destroyed because of conflict of views — History vs. Progress.
