City in Xinjiang, China
Kashgar for solo travelers
Is Kashgar good for solo travel?
A Silk Road oasis with a Uyghur old town, mosques and the Sunday bazaar, gateway to the Karakoram Highway. Cheap and fascinating, but with heavy security, checkpoints and limits on photography and talking politics.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 3/5 · Good, with some effort |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Rare |
| Safety | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Solo women | Generally safe for solo women, with respectful locals. Dress modestly, and expect to be followed by curious stares rather than harassment. |
How to meet people in Kashgar
Hostels and teahouses in the Old City, bazaar visits and shared car trips to Karakul Lake. Foreign travelers are few; locals are curious and welcoming.
Good things to do alone
- Visit the Sunday Bazaar early
- Walk the Old City and craft workshops
- Tour the Id Kah Mosque exterior and courtyard
- Eat lamb pilaf and laghman at a local restaurant
- Day trip to Karakul Lake on the Karakoram Highway
Where to stay in Kashgar
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Old City (Kashgar Old Town) | Lanes, craft workshops and teahouses |
| Id Kah Square and Seman area | Central hotels, mosque and restaurants |
Solo travel across China
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Chengdu | 5/5 | Limited |
| Beijing | 4/5 | Limited |
| Shanghai | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Xi'an | 4/5 | Limited |
| Chongqing | 4/5 | Limited |
| Hangzhou | 4/5 | Limited |
| Yangshuo | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Lijiang | 4/5 | Limited |
| Xiamen | 4/5 | Limited |
| Dali | 4/5 | Limited |
| Huangshan | 4/5 | Limited |
| Kunming | 4/5 | Limited |
| Qingdao | 4/5 | Limited |
| Nanjing | 4/5 | Limited |
| Changsha | 4/5 | Limited |
| Pingyao | 4/5 | Rare |
| Dunhuang | 4/5 | Rare |
| Guilin | 3/5 | Limited |
| Shenzhen | 3/5 | Limited |
| Guangzhou | 3/5 | Limited |
| Zhangjiajie | 3/5 | Rare |
| Suzhou | 3/5 | Limited |
| Harbin | 3/5 | Limited |
| Sanya | 3/5 | Limited |
| Lhasa | 3/5 | Rare |
| Shangri-La | 3/5 | Rare |
| Jiuzhaigou | 3/5 | Rare |
| Kashgar | 3/5 | Rare |
| Wuhan | 3/5 | Limited |
| Tianjin | 3/5 | Limited |
Quick answers
Is Kashgar good for solo travelers?
Good, with some effort (3/5). A Silk Road oasis with a Uyghur old town, mosques and the Sunday bazaar, gateway to the Karakoram Highway.
How do you meet people in Kashgar?
Hostels and teahouses in the Old City, bazaar visits and shared car trips to Karakul Lake. Foreign travelers are few; locals are curious and welcoming. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Kashgar?
Rare.
Is Kashgar safe for solo female travelers?
Generally safe for solo women, with respectful locals. Dress modestly, and expect to be followed by curious stares rather than harassment.
More about Kashgar
Going to Kashgar solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Kashgar meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.