* A new legislation entered into force on Wednesday to protect the old town area of Kashgar City in Xinjiang.
* The old town of Kashgar is home to one of the largest surviving earthen buildings in the world.
* The regulation forbids demolition of or damage to historical architecture in the old town while stipulating that reconstruction of buildings must receive official approvals.
URUMQI, May 1 (Xinhua) — A new legislation aimed at protecting the traditional culture and buildings in the old town area of Kashgar City in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region entered into force on Wednesday.
The regulation, enacted on March 31, forbids demolition of or damage to historical architecture in the old town while stipulating that reconstruction of buildings must receive official approvals.
Tourists visit the ancient city of Kashgar in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)
The old town of Kashgar, sometimes referred to as the ancient city of Kashgar, is home to one of the largest surviving earthen buildings in the world, the oldest of which can date back more than 400 years. It is also one of top travel destinations in Xinjiang.
Boasting a rich multi-ethnic culture, the old town currently houses nearly 40,000 people.
“The aim of the regulation is not to keep the ancient city unchanged, but to protect its heritage while helping it develop better,” said Zhou Qin, deputy director of the legislative affairs committee of the standing committee of the regional people’s congress.
Among the historic buildings protected from being demolished or destructed is the Id Kah Mosque, easily recognized for its iconic yellow tiles. Built more than 500 years ago, the mosque not only stands as a well-preserved landmark but also remains a vital hub for local Muslims to engage in religious activities.
The legislation is the latest one of a series of efforts spanning previous decades aimed at ensuring the comprehensive protection of the ancient city.
A significant development came in 2010, with the launch of a major project to refurbish the ancient city’s more than 7,000 dwellings. During the renovation project that spanned up to seven years, each household was provided with a customized design in a bid to best retain its original architectural style to the fullest extent possible.
Yakupjan Xirali, a member of a five-generation family in Kashgar, expressed gratitude for the transformation. “The renovated house is now much cozier and more convenient to live in, yet it maintains its original exterior appearance.”
The new regulation explicitly states that renovations of buildings and structures within the ancient city of Kashgar must adhere to the principle of preserving the old as it was, maintaining the original architectural style, volume, tone and height. Residents of various ethnicities in the old town are encouraged to live in their original residences and participate in the protection efforts of the old town.
Nawbahar Ali creates a customized painting at an art gallery in the ancient city of Kashgar in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)
“This is a wise decision. People come to Kashgar to feel the richness of its history and culture. The very first buildings they encounter often evoke deep emotions and stir their senses, setting the tone for their entire experience,” said Nawbahar Ali, a local painter. Nawbahar Ali owns an art gallery called “Retrospect” where she showcases her artworks of the old town.
The exhibits also feature an oil painting of Kashgar by her father, offering a glimpse into how the ancient city looked in the last century. “While preserving its original cultural allure, the old town now boasts a much tidier and more organized appearance,” she said.
Pulsating with vitality, the ancient town has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region. Official data shows that in 2023, it welcomed over 13 million tourists. In the first quarter of this year, the number of visitors registered a whopping 424 percent year-on-year growth, reaching 2.1 million, bringing in tourism revenue of 1.4 billion yuan (about 197 million U.S. dollars), a six-fold increase from the same period in the previous year.
Mawlan Turak is among the first to cash in on the thriving tourism industry. He runs a small business, selling original costume designs and jewelry while also offering them for rent to tourists for photo shoots.
Mawlan Turak arranges his costume designs in the ancient city of Kashgar in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)
Hailing this new regulation, he said that it would encourage residents of all ethnic groups to preserve traditions while actively engaging in the protection and utilization of the ancient city, such as by showcasing local lifestyles and organizing folk cultural activities.
While tourism can bring prosperity and recognition, it also presents challenges. Mawlan Turak observed a surge in the number of stores offering photo-shooting services, with over 100 establishments mushrooming in the past two years alone. He said that competition is not a bad thing, but everyone doing similar businesses could diminish their collective opportunities for success.
He added that he now feels a sense of relief, as the regulation explicitly cautions against disorderly competition and excessive commercialization. It specifies that business activities must comply with the overall commercial layout, and be subject to proper control and management.
The legislation also noted that intangible cultural heritages including traditional handicrafts, arts, folklore, and festivities must be protected.
In April, Mawlan Turak and his partners staged a performance featuring traditional instruments, folk songs and Twelve Muqam, a traditional art form of the Uygur ethnic group, which attracted thousands of spectators.
“The new legislation is visionary and can help the ancient city stand the test of time and preserve its enduring charm,” Mawlan Turak said.
(Video reporters: Guo Yan, Wang Fei, Ma Kai; Video editors: Liu Yutian, Li Qin, Wei Yin, Hong Liang and Wang Han)■
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