Sue's Travels: Silk Road - 23 May 2009 - Hodja Apak Mosque in Kashgar, China

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Silk Road - 23 May 2009 - Hodja Apak Mosque in Kashgar, China

The wake-up call came at 5:00 am. Since I didn’t get to sleep until about 11:00 pm, I was not a happy camper. According to our guide, the medical service wanted us there early! Breakfast was ready for us at 5:30 am. It wasn’t the greatest meal but at least it was there. I was at the bus on time, but Bora was late. Apparently they neglected to call him. The flight was short, but they went through my carry on with a fine tooth comb. They checked my sun screen, hand sanitizer and my bug spray.

Kashgar is the westernmost city in China and has a population of about 400,000. It has a bus station that offers international travel. It is 1,289 meters above sea level. We went to the hotel first and then we went to see the People’s Square which is dominated by a hug statue of Mao. Apparently they have concerts there in the evening.

Our first quick stop was by an artificial lake that they are building. From there we went to the Apak Hodja Mosque, where Moslem burial customs were explained. The body is carried on a stretcher like contraption to the cemetery by four men at a time. Carrying gives merit to the carrier and the more carriers gives merit to the person who died. Right next to the mosque was a cemetery. Circular tombs were family tombs. Rectangular ones were for individuals. In the circular tombs, bodies were laid on ledges and moved to make room for later deaths. Owing to the nature of the climate, many bodies are mummified.

The tomb has mud brick walls that are 5 feet thick with tiles dating to the 17^th Century. The Dome was rebuilt in 1997. It is frequently referred to as the tomb of the fragrant concubine, although it contains the tombs of other high level people and they are not sure that she is there.

In the complex, there is also the Friday Mosque where people go on Fridays.

There was a camel that you could get on and have your picture taken. Based upon past experience, I knew better, but Leslie Ann and Suzie decided to get on the camel. The man walked the camel in a circle and then you got off.

There is a building with a green dome and it is the oldest building in Kashgar.