主题：我的喀什， 我的南疆 -- 故乡在喀什

这一期的《经济学人》(《Economist》) 也有一篇讲喀什的。 收到朋友的转发后,我回答如下:

I still remember you want to have a tour in the stans. I wish you can realize it one day.

The mosque in the picture is Id Kar, which means a place for festival celebration in Arabic. This mosque is not the biggest , oldest or strongest in China. But it is famous due to its location. Yes, it is famous because It is in Kashgar.

The reason for Kasgar is famous in China is more or less because of mosques. there are about 40,000 mosques in China and 10,000 in Kasgar Prefecture. Recently I read a report in VOA, saying there are more than 2000 mosques in Kygistan. And the numbers of mosques is more than school in Kyrgistan, which sound an alarm. The population in Kyrgizstan is about 6 millions and Kashgar 4 millions only. FYI, there are aound 2300 mosques in France and1500 in Britain. Kasgar has more mosques than many countries conbined！Any country want to accommodate this many mosques?

Last year, I arrived Kashgar the same day with Moyu ( Kuraqush in Uyghur ) attack. A small car with bombs blasted in local government. It was nothing new, but I was shocked the next morning. All the schools of local Uyghur people were heavily guarded. Passing the parents dropped off the kids, you could tell that they were worried. What did Chinese do? Can anybody blame Communist Party at that moment ? The school is not far to Chinipak, where was the British Consulate was before 1947.

But for a visit, Kashgar is always a fantastic destination. You are welcome to visit. I mean it and my hometown always mean it.