Kashgar almonds, Kashgar. Kashgar has a continental climate with large temperature differences between day and night. It enjoys long sunshine hours and an arid environment. To adapt to these conditions, local plants accumulate high levels of sugar and oil within their tissues, which is why fruits and melons in Kashgar are exceptionally sweet. Kashgar almonds have higher oil and sugar content than those from other regions, giving them a richer and sweeter flavor. Kashgar almonds, …
The fruit of the western prunus mume is rich in organic acids, which help inhibit the production of lactic acid in the body. The total area under western prunus mume cultivation in the region is 27,263 mu. Apart from Yecheng and Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, all other counties and cities have plantings. By area, the distribution across counties and cities is as follows: Kashgar County has the largest share, accounting for 89.0% of the total area; followed by Yingjisha, Makit, Bachu...
Authentic lamb skewers originate from Kashgar and have now become popular across the country. The lamb skewers in Kashgar have a unique flavor—golden and shiny on the outside, crispy yet tender inside, with deliciously fresh meat. The preparation involves slicing the meat thinly, alternating lean and fatty pieces, and threading them onto metal skewers. These are then evenly arranged on an iron griddle grill fueled by charcoal or anthracite, sprinkled with...
Grapes are cultivated in all counties and cities of the Kashgar region. Drying varieties include seedless types such as Seedless White Grapes; fresh-eating varieties include Kashgar White Grapes (Uyghur: locally called Ak Yuzum, known elsewhere as Kashgar), Red and White Munage (Uyghur: Ak Munage), Red Flat Top, Green Flat Top, as well as Red Round Crisp, Fatty Horse…
In the Kyrgyz diet, many dishes feature beef or mutton as the main ingredient, but Shalkol is a dish that does not use any meat. “Shalkol” means “yellow lake.” When this dish is served, it looks just like a golden lake before your eyes—its unique shape and artistic presentation beautifully recreate a natural landscape on the table...
A traditional and famous dish of ethnic minorities in the Kashgar region, often served during festivals or to honored guests. A plump lamb is slaughtered and cut into chunks of about one jin (500g) each, then stewed in a pot. When the meat is half-cooked, the scum is removed. Some recipes use no seasonings at all, while others may include minced onion, ground pepper, and ginger slices. Salt is added later. The meat is cooked until about 80% done, then taken out and placed on...
Kashgar has abundant pear resources, with over 60 varieties. Among them, Dangshan pears (introduced from Dangshan County, Anhui Province) and Yecheng chessboard pears are relatively well-known. They are all characterized by large size, thin skin, tender flesh, juicy texture, and sweet taste, making them very popular among people. Due to Kashgar's unique geographical environment and natural conditions, Kashgar pears have high sugar content, as well as rich...
Kashgar is one of the major grape-producing regions. In addition to the large vineyards on the outskirts of the city, almost every household grows grapes in their courtyards. There are about 50 different varieties of grapes in Kashgar, each with its own unique flavor. Besides being eaten fresh, the grapes can also be dried or made into canned products. Local fruit farmers possess rich and sophisticated techniques for preserving grapes, making it possible to enjoy fresh grapes almost all year round...
Known as "ziran" among the Uyghur people, it originates from Parthia, an ancient region corresponding to present-day Central Asia and Iran, hence the name. It is the seed of the umbelliferous plant Carum carvi, rich in oil, with a strong and aromatic fragrance. As an important seasoning, it is used in processing beef and mutton to remove gaminess and greasiness; medicinally, it can dispel cold, eliminate dampness, regulate qi and stimulate appetite, dispel wind and relieve pain. It is effective for indigestion, stomach cold pain, and frequent urination due to kidney deficiency, and also has the effects of repelling flies, preserving food, and disinfecting. Xinjiang is the only production base of caraway in China, with a history of over a thousand years. It is mainly produced in Kashgar, Hotan, Turpan, and other areas, covering a large planting area. The caraway seeds produced there are plump, brightly colored, highly fragrant, and of excellent quality. They have been awarded the Honorary Certificate for Export Quality Products by the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade, and are exported to Islamic countries in Central Asia and the Arab region.
The Chinese indigenous chicken is known for its hardiness, strong brooding instinct, and disease resistance. It is mainly raised by farmers in free-range conditions, feeding on wild insects, grass, seeds, and mixed grains. The meat is delicious and low in fat, with 40% less cholesterol than regular chicken. It also contains 5–10 times more vitamins, iodine, selenium, iron, and zinc compared to ordinary chicken. In particular, the eggs of this chicken are high in calcium, rich in amino acids, and contain various beneficial trace elements for human health. The egg yolks are golden or orange-yellow in color, offering a distinctly rustic flavor. This breed is primarily found in areas such as Shule County and Aketao County, with a current population of around 100,000 birds.
Stewed Lamb Head and Hooves in Clear Broth is one of the most rustic snacks among the Uyghur and other ethnic groups. Its preparation is very simple: take fresh lamb head and hooves, roast them to remove all the hair, scrape and clean thoroughly, then remove the horns and hoof shells. Put them in a pot, boil without adding any seasonings until the meat can be easily separated from the bone. After that, take them out, cool until the skin no longer sticks to your hands, and serve with...
Roast stuffed buns are similar to Tianjin’s Goubuli buns, with a golden-yellow crust, tender meat, and a crispy, savory taste that is very popular with customers. "Thin-skinned buns" are one of the delicious foods favored by people of all ethnic groups. Their characteristics include a thin, shiny crust, tender meat rich in oil, and a moist, fragrant taste…
Nang pit roast meat is a unique delicacy from Xinjiang, made by roasting fresh lamb using the radiant heat of the nang pit fire and the high temperature of the pit walls. The roasted meat has a golden-brown color and is deliciously tender and flavorful when dipped in special seasonings or salt. Additionally, chicken and other foods can also be roasted in the nang pit. (Kashgar)…
Lamb meat is typically made from yearling castrated sheep or lambs under one year old. The process involves slaughtering the lamb, removing its skin and internal organs, cleaning it, and then boiling it in a large pot with seasonings such as onions and pepper. There are two methods of cooking the meat: one starts by boiling it in cold water, the other in boiling water. Regardless of the method, the scum that floats to the surface of the broth must be skimmed off...
The Jiangyue Donkey is a large draft-meat dual-purpose breed developed through strict selective breeding and hybrid improvement, using the Xinjiang Donkey as the dam and the Shaanxi Guanzhong Donkey as the sire. Its distinctive “three whites and one black” appearance is typical. Adult male donkeys average a height of 135.5 cm and weigh 314 kg; female donkeys stand 130 cm tall and weigh 285 kg…
The unique geographical location and natural resource conditions endow the fennel produced in Yuepuhu County with distinctive qualities. The “Teakwood” brand fennel boasts a vibrant green color, plump seeds, and a pure, rich aroma, making it highly favored in both domestic and international markets. In 2003, quality analysis conducted by the Autonomous Region Academy of Agricultural Sciences revealed a protein content of 18.…
Yopurga County is located on the western edge of the Taklamakan Desert, characterized by an arid climate with little rainfall, abundant sunlight and heat, long sunshine hours, and large diurnal temperature variations. These conditions are extremely favorable for melon cultivation. The melons produced here are of high quality, attractive in appearance, with an average sugar content of over 16%, and possess excellent storage capabilities. They enjoy a strong reputation both within and outside the region, and were once exported as far as Singapore and ...
Zepu jujubes are a specialty of Zepu County in the Kashgar region of Xinjiang. Zepu County is nationally renowned as a top producer of organic jujubes, celebrated for their exceptional quality, and has won the Gold Award at the First China Jujube Industry Conference. Zepu, which means “river floating with gold” in Uyghur, has long been famed for its beauty and fertility. Located on the northern slopes of the Kunlun Mountains, along the western edge of the Tarim Basin, and in the upper-middle reaches of the alluvial fans of the Yarkant River and Tizinafu River, it lies at the heart of the southern economic development zone of Kashgar Prefecture in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region and was an important stop along the ancient Silk Road. With distinct seasons and abundant sunshine, it has long been known as the “Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall” and the “land of fish and rice,” serving as a key production base in Xinjiang for commercial grain, commercial cotton, and large jujubes.
The jujubes produced in the Kashgar region are known for their smooth skin, thin rind, vibrant color, and thick, juicy flesh. Renowned for their superior quality and excellent taste, they are highly favored by domestic consumers. The jujube cultivation area spans 1.526 million mu, with 328,000 mu currently bearing fruit, yielding 37,000 tons. They are mainly grown in Zepu, Bachu, Makit, …
Oil tower pastries and thin-skinned stuffed buns. The thin-skinned stuffed bun, known in Uyghur as “pitemanta,” is made with high-quality lamb filling and is a delicious dish beloved by the Uyghur people. These buns are snow-white and glossy, with paper-thin skins, tender meat rich in juice, and a sweet, aromatic flavor from Xinjiang onions, making them incredibly refreshing and tasty. Oil tower pastries are a...