Hoxud, a Town on the Old Silk Road

I always enjoy the chance to see the “real China”… the places where the majority of people still live out their lives… far from the new glass, steel and fast life of the big cities.

So, I was delighted when my friend offered to take me to her home town, to visit her family and see the place where she started her own life.

What was I expecting? It was at the opposite end of China from Shanghai and Beijing, in a region with mountains, great deserts, and a much slower pace of life.

Located not far from the Tianshan mountain range, Hoxud is an old town. It is also an oasis town served by springs from groundwater that comes from the nearby mountains. There is agriculture here.

Hoxud is the seat of county government and services, but also a town on the old caravan route with a long history. It is a town of mixed ethnic groups: Uyghur, Han, and Mongolian people.

As often happens when I tour China, I was surprised at what I discovered. Hoxud was a very pretty town with a broad, beautiful main street, many modern buildings, lovely apartment buildings, and some beautiful squares.

For more details of Hoxud, please view my photos albums:
Hoxud Street Scenes
Hoxud People
Hoxud Business Activity

First published: 2010/02/21
Latest revision: 2016/11/06