Kashgar Group Tour How to Play in Shache Old Town Twelve Mukams + One Day Cost Recommended Itinerary and Price

Contact Manager Maizi at phone number 13201333409 or WeChat 13201333409 to send your itinerary and receive a quote.

Explore the Pearl of the Silk Road:Kashgar and Shache Old Town: A Deep Cultural Experience of the Twelve Mukam
(Icon:✨)【Itinerary Highlights: Unlocking Cultural Codes Spanning Millennia】
Kashgar and Shache Old Town, a millennium-old city that once served as the capital of the Yarkant Khanate, is now renowned worldwide as the “Hometown of the Twelve Mukam.” As a vital node on the southern route of the Silk Road, it preserves intact traditional architectural complexes, handicraft workshops, and musical heritage of various ethnic groups. Recent data from 2026 shows a 23% year-on-year increase in daily tourist visits to Shache Old Town, with the “Twelve Mukam Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience” serving as the core attraction. Visitors can stroll through the Yarkant Khan’s Palace with its blue domes, listen to veteran artists performing the Twelve Mukam beneath century-old mulberry trees, personally touch Yuan Dynasty blue-and-white porcelain shards, and feel the historical pulse of trade between the Western Regions and the Central Plains.
(Icon:🗺️)【Classic Itinerary Design: Three-Day Immersive Cultural Journey】
Day 1:Kashgar Old Town Exploration: Urban Vitality and Historical Echoes
Morning:Upon arrival in Kashgar, check into a guesthouse within the old town. We recommend choosing a century-old residence with a grape trellis (reference price: 280-400 RMB/night). After some rest, follow a local guide to visit the Id Kah Mosque and learn about its architectural features as the largest mosque in Xinjiang.
Noon:Savor Sharkol roasted meat (45 RMB/serving) and Badam yogurt zongzi (12 RMB) at the “Khan’s Kitchen,” paired with fennel wellness tea.
Afternoon:Stroll through the Artisan Bazaar to watch craftsmen create earthenware and copperware on-site. We highly recommend participating in the “Glazed Tile Revival Project” to make blue glazed tiles using traditional molds in a family workshop (take your creation home as a souvenir).
Evening:Listen to selections from the Twelve Mukam performed at a century-old teahouse and dance with local elders to music from various ethnic groups.
Day 2:In-Depth Exploration of Shache Old Town: Twelve Mukam Intangible Cultural Heritage
Morning:Take a train to Shache (2-hour hard seat, 23 RMB). Upon arrival, head directly to the Yarkant Khan’s Palace (combined ticket: 30 RMB/person). Key attractions include:

Explore the Pearl of the Silk Road: Kashgar and Shache Old Town: A Deep Cultural Experience of the Twelve MukamThe corridor with 132 carved wooden pillars
Ruins of the royal underground water diversion system
Yuan Dynasty blue-and-white porcelain shards in the pottery display area
Noon:Experience the “Tea with Naan Set” (15 RMB/set) at the Yalmaguli Teahouse and join the elders for a game of “fangqi” (a traditional board game).
Afternoon:Visit the Tomb of Amannisha Khan (admission: 20 RMB/person) to listen to Mukam masters perform improvised music and participate in hand drum interactions. Beneath the century-old mulberry tree outside the tomb, read selected Uyghur love poems from “The Wisdom of Blessings and Happiness.”
Evening:Sample grilled eggs (5 RMB) and charcoal-pit roasted meat skewers (20 RMB/skewer) at the New Unity Road Night Market while watching a Uyghur-language shadow puppet show of “The Stories of Afanti.”
Day 3:Oasis Craftsmanship and Desert Elegy: Artisanal Warmth and Natural Wonders
Morning:Experience tie-dyeing and loom operation at the Guli Aisha Silk Cooperative (reservation required) and personally craft a 5cm-wide Aidelesi silk bookmark.
Noon:Enjoy a picnic in the poplar forest of Damus Township, with your custom-chartered driver preparing naan-wrapped meat and Shache watermelon (reference charter fee: 200 RMB/round trip).
Afternoon:Tour the Bandir Blue Lake (admission: 40 RMB/person). Optionally, take a camel caravan through the dunes at dusk (100 RMB/person) to capture silhouettes against the sunset.
Evening:Return to Kashgar and purchase souvenirs such as Yingjisha knives (which must be mailed) and woodblock-printed earthenware bowls at the old town night market.

(Icon:✨)【Itinerary Highlights: Unlocking Cultural Codes Spanning Millennia】(Icon:💰)【Cost Breakdown: Transparent Pricing Reference】
According to data from Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency (June 2026), the per-person cost for a three-day group tour ranges from 1,580-1,980 RMB, including:
Transportation:Kashgar city transfers, round-trip train tickets to Shache, and custom transportation in Damus Township
Accommodation:Two nights in an old town guesthouse (breakfast included)
Admission:Combined ticket for Yarkant Khan’s Palace and Amannisha Khan’s Tomb; Bandir Blue Lake admission
Meals:Five main meals (including specialty dishes)
Services:Professional guide services and materials fees for intangible cultural heritage experiences
Special Notes:
The Twelve Mukam home visit experience requires an additional 150 RMB/person (includes fruits, tea, and snacks)
June is peak tourist season; prices may increase by 10%-15%. Final pricing depends on actual consultation and contract signing.
Solo travelers will be accommodated in shared rooms whenever possible. A 300 RMB supplement applies for two nights in special circumstances.

Kashgar and Shache Old Town, a millennium-old city that once served as the capital of the Yarkant Khanate, is now renowned worldwide as the “Hometown of the Twelve Mukam.” As a vital node on the southern route of the Silk Road, it preserves intact traditional architectural complexes, handicraft workshops, and musical heritage of various ethnic groups. Recent data from 2026 shows a 23% year-on-year increase in daily tourist visits to Shache Old Town, with the “Twelve Mukam Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience” serving as the core attraction. Visitors can stroll through the Yarkant Khan’s Palace with its blue domes, listen to veteran artists performing the Twelve Mukam beneath century-old mulberry trees, personally touch Yuan Dynasty blue-and-white porcelain shards, and feel the historical pulse of trade between the Western Regions and the Central Plains.(Icon:📞)【Registration: Professional Service Guarantees】
Register through Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency. Customer service manager Zhang Jing provides:
Real-time seat availability inquiries (ample seats available as of June 2026)
Customized itinerary adjustments (e.g., adding a one-day tour to the Pamir Plateau)
Contract signing and insurance purchase guidance
Coordination of special requests (e.g., family room reservations, vegetarian meal arrangements)
(Icon:⚠️)【Pre-Trip Recommendations: Details Determine Experience Quality】
Documents:Valid ID, border pass (required in advance for travel to Taxkorgan)
Clothing:Layered dressing (moisture-wicking base + insulating middle + windproof outer). Bring a hardshell jacket for the Pamir Plateau.
Protection:SPF50+ sunscreen, wide-brimmed hat, anti-sand face mask (recommended for desert excursions)
Cultural Etiquette:

(Icon:🗺️)【Classic Itinerary Design: Three-Day Immersive Cultural Journey】Remove shoes when entering certain venues; women should avoid short skirts
Smile and gesture before photographing local elders
No flash photography in blacksmith workshops
Shopping Guide:
Recommended Purchases:Twelve Mukam vinyl records, Aidelesi silk scarves
Proceed with Caution:High-priced jade (unless you possess professional appraisal skills)
Transportation Tips:
Taxis in Kashgar city are affordable; take the train to Shache (scenic Gobi oasis views along the way)
Choose licensed travel agencies for custom transportation and beware of low-price scams
(Icon:🎭)【Cultural Experience Upgrade: Multiple Ways to Engage with the Twelve Mukam】
Morning Awakening:At 7:00 AM, learn to sing a segment of the “Qebiyat” Mukam with veteran artists at Amannisha Khan’s Tomb

Day 1: Kashgar Old Town Exploration: Urban Vitality and Historical EchoesAfternoon Handicrafts:Participate in a “Musical Instrument Making Workshop” at the Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo Park and craft a dutar model (reference price: 80 RMB/person)
Evening Performance:Every Friday at 8:00 PM, watch the large-scale outdoor performance “Legend of the Mukam” (120 RMB/person) at Yarkant Khan’s Palace Square
In-Depth Interaction:Schedule home visits with local families through your travel agency to learn eagle flute techniques (reference price: 200 RMB/family)
(Icon:🌄)【Seasonal Highlights: Optimal Travel Periods in 2026】
April-June:Apricot blossoms bloom on the Pamir Plateau; Bandir Blue Lake turns Tiffany blue
September-October:Poplar forests turn golden; desert temperatures are pleasant (daily average: 22-28°C)
December-February:Fewer tourists; accommodation prices drop by 30%. Capture blue ice landscapes at Baisha Lake
(Icon:📌)【Special Alerts: Recent Policy Changes in 2026】
Shache Old Town implements timed entry reservations. Book 3 days in advance via the “Visit Xinjiang” platform.
Yarkant Khan’s Palace offers upgraded guided tours with trilingual (Chinese-English-Uyghur) electronic audio guides (100 RMB deposit).
Bandir Blue Lake limits daily visitors to 2,000. Group tours use dedicated channels.
Twelve Mukam performances increased to 3 daily shows (11:00/15:00/20:00).
This millennium-spanning cultural journey will guide you from the urban vitality of Kashgar Old Town to the intangible cultural heritage of Shache Old Town, culminating amidst the blue lakes and sand dunes of the Pamir Plateau as you decipher the eternal narrative of Western Regions civilization. For specific itinerary details and costs, refer to the latest contract provided by Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency. Let us embark together on this unforgettable southern Xinjiang memory.

Contact Manager Maizi at 13201333409 or WeChat 13201333409 to send your itinerary and receive a quote.