Getting there
Direct flights between Beijing and Kashgar do not yet exist so a stop in Urumqi - a few hours at the airport or overnight - is necessary. Return flights to Urumqi are around 1,600 yuan ($210). Return flights between Urumqi and Kashgar can be as low as 1,000 yuan ($131) although a 24-hour train ride one-way gives a sense of the vastness of the region and costs 400 yuan ($52) for a soft sleeper.
Accommodation:Qiniwak (Seman Lu, 0998/2982103) is the best value choice in Kashgar and works on a three-tier price system. Economy class is 120 yuan ($16) for a comfortable double room off an open-air courtyard dominated by two spiral staircases. The former British consulate is located in the hotel grounds.
Kashgar-Taxkorgan trip:A minibus, jeep or taxi, complete with driver, can be booked at John's Information Caf (in Qiniwak grounds) or Caravan Caf (left out of the Qiniwak gates) for around 1,600 yuan ($210). You can make up your own itinerary but this price was for a three-day jaunt; one night in Taxkorgan, one night in a yurt at Karakul Lake and a highly recommended detour to Oytagh glacier on the way back to Kashgar.
Useful tips:Caravan Caf (120 Seman Lu, Kashgar, www.caravancafe.com) serves a perfect breakfast and sells an invaluable booklet (15 yuan, $2) which includes names of local dishes, a crash course in Uygur speak and some tasty restaurants. The helpful owners will help you devise a travel plan for the surrounding area.
(China Daily 06/14/2007 page19)
