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Kashgar’s festival calendar runs on the Islamic lunar calendar, so the two big holidays shift about 11 days earlier each Gregorian year. Nowruz is fixed to the solar equinox. If you can align a trip with one of these, you will see the city at its most alive; the best time to visit guide explains how each lines up with the weather, and things to do covers the venues.
Kashgar Events and Festivals: Nowruz (March 21)
Nowruz, the Persian and Central Asian New Year, falls on March 21 and marks the start of spring. In Kashgar and across Xinjiang it is celebrated with folk music, dance, and the cooking of a seven-ingredient porridge. Look for performances in the Old Town squares and cultural displays in the city’s public spaces. It is more than 3,000 years old and is on the UNESCO intangible heritage list. For the complete destination overview, start with our Kashgar guide. Dress warmly; March nights still average around 3°C. See the weather by month guide for full March averages.
Kashgar Events and Festivals: Roza Heyt (Eid al-Fitr)
Roza Heyt, the Uyghur name for Eid al-Fitr, closes the month of Ramadan. The date moves back roughly 11 days each year; recent years have seen it in March to April. The morning opens with prayers at Id Kah Mosque, followed by family feasts and visits. Non-Muslims can watch the square fill but should keep a respectful distance from prayer. Practical festival etiquette is in the travel tips guide. Many food stalls and restaurants run reduced hours during Ramadan itself and reopen fully for the holiday.
Kashgar Events and Festivals: Corban Festival (Eid al-Adha)
Corban Festival, the Uyghur name for Eid al-Adha, is the biggest holiday of the year and falls about 70 days after Roza Heyt, usually in late May to mid-June in recent years. Morning prayers at Id Kah draw crowds that spill across the square, followed by the ritual sacrifice of livestock and the sharing of the meat with neighbours and the poor. Suburban and pastoral areas hold wrestling, horse racing, and archery. It is a family holiday, so expect many shops to close and book transport and rooms early; the neighborhoods guide maps where the crowds gather.
Kashgar Events and Festivals: Sunday Bazaar Day
Sunday bazaar day is a weekly event in its own right, running all year regardless of the religious calendar. The Grand Bazaar and the livestock market both peak on Sunday morning, drawing traders from across the region. Arrive by 9:00 for the livestock market’s busiest trading and stay for lunch at the bazaar’s food stalls. It costs nothing to enter. Weekday mornings are quieter if you prefer to browse without the crush. Festivals book hotels out, so reserve through the where to stay guide early.
