Kashgar Century-old Teahouse (喀什百年老茶馆), also called A Hundred Year Old Tea House, on Ostangboyi Street in Kashgar Old City is a landmark in Kashgar. It is passed down from generation to generation for over a hundred years. The present owner is the fifth generation of the Mamat family. It has been through many ups and downs, but eventually, it survives and thrives. Therefore, many visitors in Kashgar will have a sit in the teahouse and feel the unusual travel experience. However, what really make it attractive lie in its time-honored history, traditional customs and the local atmosphere that no other teahouses, restaurants or pubs have. People enjoy tea, eat Nang (a kind of local flat bread), and share their daily lives in this teahouse, which has become an indispensable part of the life of Kashgar people in this old city.
Kashgar Century-old Teahouse
This two-story building in typical ethnic style condenses the valuable memory of Kashgar for several generations. As the setting of the movie The Kite Runner, Kashgar Century-old Teahouse is known to tourists. The blue exterior wall, arch door, exquisite wooden carvings, and colorful blankets hanging on the inside wall all show that it is a typical Uyghur building. The teahouse was redecorated in 2013 but the main features have been preserved. The locals, some have been keeping the routine for decades of years, are used to having a cup of tea and spending a couple of hours here in the afternoon. No matter whether they know each other or not, they will order a pot of tea, sit around and chat leisurely. Sometimes they will play the local musical instruments and dance together. You can just sit enjoying the joyful scene or join them.
At the balcony on the second floor, there are several tables where you can watch the busy street while drinking tea. They are probably the most popular seats so they are always occupied. You may need to wait for a while to get the seat. The Century-old Teahouse is like a shining regional icon of Kashgar, attracting tourists from home and abroad.
What does Kashgar Century-old Teahouse Offer?
Kashgar Century-old Teahouse used to offer several local teas only such as the black tea. But as the popularity grows and after it was passed down to the present owner, the young Mamat has made some changes on the menu and now the teahouse also provides Uygur medicinal tea flavored with cloves, ginger, white pepper and cardamom. Coffee, flower tea, fruit tea and snacks such as Nang, bean jelly, yogurt, roast mutton, and noodles are also available.
Scene at The Kite Runner
Second Floor of Kashgar Century-old Teahouse
Kashgar Century-old Teahouse is located at Ostangboyi Street, Kashgar Old City, Kashgar (喀什地区喀什老城吾斯塘博依老街), just in the downtown area. To get to Kashgar Century-old Teahouse, you need to get to Kashgar first. Kashgar Century-old Teahouse is about:
Kashgar is near the western border of China. You can get there by flight from domestic cities such as Beijing (about 6~7 hours), Xian (about 4 hours), Chengdu (about 6~7 hours), Shanghai (about 8 hours), Guangzhou (about 8 hours), Jinan (about 7 hours), Zhengzhou (about 7 hours), Urumqi (about 2 hours), Korla (about 1.5 hours), Yili (about 1.5 hours), etc. High speed train is not available and normal train takes too long a time. You can also get to Kashgar from land border ports, such as Kalasu Port, Irkeshtam Port, Torugart Port, and Khunjerab Port. Read more about Kashgar Transportation >
No matter you arrive in Kashgar by flight or train, there is regular city bus and taxi to Kashgar Old City. Kashgar Century-old Teahouse is just in Kashgar Old City.
Travel with China Discovery: If you want to get rid of hustle of public transportation and troublesome navigation, you can book a private tour package which covers sightseeing, dining and transfer from us. Our knowledgeable local tour guide and skilled driver will escort you to visit Kashgar Century-old Teahouse with speed and convenience, and take care of all the details. You just need to focus on sightseeing. Contact us to customize a worry-free tour package now!
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1. The locals are usually friendly and will not refuse if you want to take a photo with them, but it is still polite to ask for permission first.
2. Most locals can speak Mandarin but do not know English or other foreign languages. If you do not understand each other, smile is always the best language.
3. Kashgar Old City and Id Kah Mosque nearby are also worth a visit if time permits.
How to Get to Kashgar: From mainland cities - you can take domestic flights from Beijing (about 6~7 hours), Xian (about 4 hours), Chengdu (about 6~7 hours), Shanghai (about 8 hours), Guangzhou (about 8 hours), Jinan (about 7 hours), Zhengzhou (about 7 hours), etc., or provincial flights from Urumqi (about 2 hours), Korla (about 1.5 hours), Yili (about 1.5 hours). From the borders - you can also get to Kashgar from land border ports, such as Kalasu Port, Irkeshtam Port, Torugart Port, Khunjerab Port. If you need transfer, we can send a tour guide and driver to pick up you from the borders.
Best Time to Visit Kashgar: suitable for travelling all year around, but May to October is most comfortable and beautiful.
Top Places to Visit Kashgar: Kashgar Old City, Karakul Lake, Tashkurgan (Stone City, Golden Grassland), Id Kah Mosque, Kashgar Bazaar
Plus arrival and departure days, you’d better plan at least 4 days for your Kashgar trip. If you want to extend your trip to Tashkurgan, you need at least 5 days. You can spend 2 days exploring attractions in Kashgar city and its old town, such as Kashgar Bazaar, Kashgar Old City, Id Kah Mosque, Abakh Hoja Tomb, Ancient Tea House, etc., then have a day trip to Karakul Lake from Kashgar. If you want to experience something more authentic, Tashkurgan, about 3.5 hours’ drive from Kashgar, is strongly recommended.
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After Kashgar tour, you can take a flight to Urumqi to marvel at the alluring Heavenly Lake and visit the mummy and Silk Road exhibitions in Xinjiang Regional Museum, then keep traveling to Turpan to see the grape valleys, visit historical Jiaohe Ancient City, etc. For an in-depth Silk Road journey, you can travel from Kashgar to Hotan, Kuqa, Taklamakan Desert, etc., which usually need about 8~13 days. If you love landscape, don’t miss out the Kanas Lake in northern Xinjiang.
☛ 6 Days Urumqi to Kashgar Dream Tour - Best Xinjiang Tour for the First-timers
☛ 8 Days Urumqi Turpan Kashgar Xinjiang Tour
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Kashgar and Xinjiang regions can also be connected to other Silk Road destinations easily, such as Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Zhangye, Xian, etc. Qinghai, Tibet, Inner Mongolia are also some recommended extensions of Kashgar Xinjiang trip. Find recommended Silk Road tours here or contact us to tailor-make a trip of your own if you want to discover more destinations.
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Our clients in Kashgar
Erin Family (USA) Visited Zhangye Danxia Geopark
Top 3 Kashgar tours chosen by most customers to explore Kashgar in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us.
Xian / Dunhuang / Turpan / Urumqi / Kashgar
Kashgar - Karakul Lake - Tashkurgan - Kashgar
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