Ancient city of Kashgar transforms into iconic tourist destination in China's Xinjiang

The city of Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has harnessed its cultural and geographical advantages, transforming into a unique tourist destination that blends history and modernity.

The ancient city, located in southwestern Xinjiang, served as a vital transportation hub connecting China with Central Asia and South Asia in ancient times. Stepping into the newly revitalized Kashgar Ancient City scenic spot is like opening a window to a vibrant tapestry woven from history, dreams, and modern renewal.

Maerdan Abuliti is an owner of a cozy cafe nestled within the historic quarter. As he carefully brews the signature specialty coffee inspired by the local love for herbal tea, Maerdan reflects on how the city's revival has breathed new life into his business and the community.

Maerdan grew up in Kashgar, witnessing the city's gradual change. Following the completion of the old city's renovation in 2016, he envisioned opening a cafe that would honor the area's rich heritage while offering a modern touch. He thoughtfully incorporated vintage artifacts into his shop's decor, creating a space that marries tradition with innovation.

Sprawling across 8.36 square kilometers and home to over 200,000 residents, the old city faced serious challenges in the past -- deteriorating structures, safety hazards, and a pressing need for renovation. The local government launched a revitalization plan, engaging local residents to ensure the project reflected their needs and aspirations and preserving the city's historical fabric while enhancing its livability.

"If the ancient city has not been renovated and upgraded, or the supporting facilities have not been improved, the tourists' experience will not be very good, and I don't think tourism will bring us such benefits, which concerns every one of us living in the Kashgar ancient city," said Maerdan.

As the city's charm grows, more young people are choosing to settle in Kashgar's historic streets. Among them is Xiaohu, a photographer from southwest China's Chongqing Municipality who arrived three years ago.

Enthralled by Kashgar's unique scenery, she has become a dedicated travel photographer, capturing the city's evolving stories through her lens. Xiaohu and many other young professionals have made Kashgar their home, helping document the city's ongoing renaissance.

"During the summer vacation, there are more tourists. I can get eight to 12 orders in a day. Some of the tourists like the street scenes here," said Xiaohu.

Since 2019, emerging profession of travel photography has flourished in the scenic spot. By far, around 145 registered photo studios and approximately 800 photographers contribute to capturing both the enduring history and the vibrant energy of the city, allowing visitors and locals alike to see Kashgar's timeless splendor in a new light.

"The old city, the historical city is very beautiful, quite amazing. So, just walking around and see the city, we really like it," said a tourist from Italy.

"This is not only my workplace bu more like my home," said Aliya Abulimiti, a local guide.

"We welcome more people to come to Kashgar as Kashgar is a brilliant pearl," said Abdurehim Uji, head of the e-commerce operations department at a local tourism resource development and operation company.

Ancient city of Kashgar transforms into iconic tourist destination in China's Xinjiang

Geoeconomic confrontation is the leading short-term global threat in 2026, the World Economic Forum (WEF) warned in its Global Risks Report 2026 released on Wednesday ahead of its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

The report ranks geoeconomic confrontation as the top risk for 2026, followed by interstate conflict, extreme weather, societal polarization, and misinformation and disinformation. It also identifies geoeconomic confrontation as the most severe risk over the next two years.

"I think if there is to be one key takeaway from the report, it's that we are entering an age of competition and this new competitive order is then shaping current global risks, but it is also shaping and to some extent hindering our ability to actually cope with them. That's really the key takeaway. If we take a look at, the number one risk both for 2026 and two years out, it's dual economic confrontation. But then if we look at the risks 10 years out. It's really the climate and environment related risks. All of these things require global cooperation and that's where we're seeing a big backsliding in this new age of competition," said Saadia Zahidi, managing director of the WEF.

Economic risks showed the largest increase in the two-year outlook, with concerns over economic downturns, inflation, rising debt and potential asset bubbles intensifying amid geoeconomic tensions, the report said.

Environmental risks remain the most severe overall, led by extreme weather, biodiversity loss and critical changes to Earth systems. The report noted that three-quarters of respondents expect a turbulent environmental outlook.

Risks related to adverse outcomes of artificial intelligence rose sharply, climbing from 30th in the two-year horizon to fifth in the 10-year outlook, reflecting concerns over impacts on labor markets, society and security.

The 21st edition of the report draws on views from more than 1,300 experts, policymakers and industry leaders.

The WEF's annual meeting will be held in Davos from Jan 19 to 23 and draw nearly 3,000 guests from more than 130 countries and regions to participate.

"So overall, we are starting to see this shift away from what have traditionally been the ways in which people have been able to cooperate. Now, that is not to say that any of this is a foregone conclusion. And I think that's a really important message around the risks report. None of this is set in stone. All of this is in the hands of leaders. Whether they choose to cooperate and invest in resilience or whether they do not. So that's really what we'll be focused on next week in Davos bringing leaders together under this overall theme of 'a spirit of dialogue' and trying to reestablish relationships, cooperation and trust. That's the fundamental," said Zahidi.

WEF warns of rising geoeconomic risks in 2026