Demolished / cleared areas of the Old City of Kashgar

Kashgar’s Old City has been called “the best-preserved example of a traditional Islamic city to be found anywhere in Central Asia, but it is now being razed by the Chinese government which plans to replace the old buildings with new.” "The demolition of swaths of the Old Town of Kashgar is being carried out in the name of modernisation and safety. The famed trading hub on the Silk Road, on which caravans carrying silk and jade from China crossed with merchants from Central Asia bringing furs and spices, will effectively disappear. . . . A small area visited by tourists seeking a flavour of Kashgar’s rich history will be preserved."