The demolition of Kashgar

Clip from documentary The 10 Conditions of Love
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The demolition of Kashgar - From New York Times May 26th 2009

Nine hundred families already have been moved from Kashgars Old City, the best-preserved example of a traditional Islamic city to be found anywhere in central Asia, as the architect and historian George Michell wrote in the 2008 book Kashgar: Oasis City on Chinas Old Silk Road.

Over the next few years, city officials say, they will demolish at least 85 percent of this warren of picturesque, if run-down homes and shops. Many of its 13,000 families, Muslims from a Turkic ethnic group called the Uighurs (pronounced WEE-gurs), will be moved.

In its place will rise a new Old City, a mix of midrise apartments, plazas, alleys widened into avenues and reproductions of ancient Islamic architecture to preserve the Uighur culture, Kashgars vice mayor, Xu Jianrong, said in a phone interview.

Demolition is deemed an urgent necessity because an earthquake could strike at any time, collapsing centuries-old buildings and killing thousands. The entire Kashgar area is in a special area in danger of earthquakes, Mr. Xu said. I ask you: What countrys government would not protect its citizens from the dangers of natural disaster?

Critics fret about a different disaster.

From a cultural and historical perspective, this plan of theirs is stupid, said Wu Lili, the managing director of the Beijing Cultural Protection Center, a nongovernmental group devoted to historic preservation. From the perspective of the locals, its cruel.

Urban reconstruction during Chinas long boom has razed many old city centers, including most of the ancient alleyways and courtyard homes of the capital, Beijing.

Kashgar, though, is not a typical Chinese city. Chinese security officials consider it a breeding ground for a small but resilient movement of Uighur separatists who Beijing claims have ties to international jihadis. So redevelopment of this ancient center of Islamic culture comes with a tinge of forced conformity.

Chinese officials have offered somewhat befuddling explanations for their plans. Mr. Xu calls Kashgar a prime example of rich cultural history and at the same time a major tourism city in China. Yet the demolition plan would reduce to rubble Kashgars principal tourist attraction, a magnet for many of the million-plus people who visit each year.

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[ymhktravel]

I'm Chinese and I do feel it's important to preserve ancient settlements and living quarters. Actually even if you know Mandarin (Putonghua) it doesn't help. The provincial govts (not sure if the central govt has a hand) is usu the culprit. Not just the kashgar living district, they also destroy the "hutong" in Beijing and Shanghai of the Han chinese common people. They are worth preserving but they still pulled it down in the name of modernisation. I feel modern and old can actually co-exist

[howanet]

fuck off china love uyghors

[wanderlust222]

I m going to miss the old town in Kashgar. :(

[glorplaxy]

I don't understand how they can say that these houses are earthquake hazards when they have been standing for so long.