The important oasis of Yarkand (Shache) was once the seat of an ancient Buddhist Kingdom and an important caravanserai on the Southern Silk Road. Today it is a predominantly Uighur city with a population of 375;000 producing cotton; wheat; corn and fruit (notably pomegranates; pears and grapes) as well as oil and natural gas.

In times past Yarkand was of particular importance as the northern terminus for the strategically significant trade route to Leh; capital of Ladakh in Indian-administered Kashmir; across the Karakoram Pass (5;575m.; 18;286 ft). Pictures From Asia David Henley