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Kashgar Old City Panorama | 160m View Over Eid Silk Road City | 360° Gigapixel Panorama

May 2021Kashgar, China160 m51 Gigapixels中国

Climbing the unfinished Kunlun Tower on Eid al-Fitr — 51 gigapixels capturing the Silk Road city's most fervent moment.

Description

Kashgar: Heart of the Silk Road

Kashgar was the core commercial hub of the ancient Silk Road, with a 2,100-year history and more than ten ethnic groups — Uyghur, Han, Tajik, Kyrgyz — living side by side. Bordering the Pamir Plateau to the west and the Tarim Basin to the east, it was once the great crossroads where caravan bells converged from across Eurasia. Today, Kashgar Old City preserves one of the world's largest surviving complexes of earthen architecture, with approximately 40,000 residents still living inside its walls. In this 51-gigapixel panorama, every alley, every dwelling, and every square of this living Silk Road city is recorded in full detail, letting you soar above it like a bird.

An Eid al-Fitr Coincidence: The Mass Sama Dance

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many photographs were used to create this 51-gigapixel panorama?

The panorama was stitched from 4,086 high-resolution images captured individually, achieving a resolution of 51 gigapixels — comprehensively documenting the Kashgar cityscape and the Eid al-Fitr celebration.

Are Eid al-Fitr and 'Roza Festival' the same holiday? Why two names?

Yes, they are the same holiday. 'Eid al-Fitr' is the general name marking the end of Ramadan. 'Roza' is the name used in Xinjiang, from the Persian word for 'fasting.' For the Uyghur people, this is the most important festival of the year, equivalent to the Chinese New Year.

When was the Sama dance inscribed as a national intangible cultural heritage?

The Sama dance was approved by China's State Council on May 23, 2011, as part of the third batch of national intangible cultural heritage, registered by Kashgar City. This 600-year-old collective dance evolved from ancient ritual ceremonies, with the most typical performances held at Id Kah Mosque square during festivals.

The Kunlun Tower was not yet completed when the panorama was shot. How did the team access it?

The team coordinated with the local cultural tourism bureau and scheduled the shoot in advance. They climbed the not-yet-operational tower on their second day in Kashgar, setting up equipment at 160 meters to capture the city and festival scene in full 360 degrees.

Kashgar中国

City Secrets Challenge

CITY SECRETS CHALLENGE

Uncover the stories behind the city — every answer holds a piece of urban memory.

Question 01 / 06

Eid al-Fitr is also called 'Roza' in Xinjiang. Which language does the word 'Roza' come from?