The sun in Hotan in summer is fiery.

Red and white castles, well-distributed white houses, traditional "Ayiwan" style houses, colorful roofs... On May 17, 2023, members of an activity that will take journalists to learn about Xinjiang came 10 kilometers west to Baghqi Town, Hetian County, and what first came into their sight was a red square city covering an area of 156 mu.

Photo shows the old town of Yotkan in Baghqi Town, Hetian County, northwest China’s Xinjiang. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/Parizat Abdu)

With a total investment of 600 million yuan, the old town of Yotkan stepped up as the first folk cultural tourism project in Hotan Prefecture. Through the layout of performing arts performances, food streets, homestays, hotels, handicraft workshops, cultural exhibition halls and other scene formats, with modern technology panoramic interpretation, reproduce the prosperous scenery of the ancient Khotan Silk Road.

Stroll through the city, Xuanzang Square, Ban Chao Bronze Statue, Sumi Castle, Huama Bridge...,and people sketch out the appearance of the ancient capital of Khotan in their minds. At the same time, the old city of Yotkan excavated the protection of intangible cultural heritage in Hotan Prefecture through the "One Shop, One Story". The display and production skills of intangible cultural heritage products such as Hotan medicinal tea, wooden bowl carving, and copper ware making can be seen and experienced in the workshop street of the old city.

After the old town of Yotkan opened to public, more than 100 merchants such as Mamatumar Matkurban became the "masters" of the old town. Mamatumar Matkurban is the fifth generation inheritor of the craft of Wasangguo roast whole lamb making, which has a history of more than 300 years, and the store in the old town is his fourth chain store. "During May Day holiday, the second food and culture festival in Hotan was held in the old town, and many tourists came to eat roast whole lamb and kebab, and our store was regarded as a renowned specialty catering restaurant," Mamatumar said.

Heirloom Bronze is a copperware making shop in Workshop Street, where more than 100 kinds of copper handicrafts such as copper spoons, copper pots, and copper pans are displayed. "Next, we will invite craftsmen to make handicrafts on scene, so that visitors can participate in the production of bronze ware and feel the charm of intangible cultural heritage," Ubulasan Islam, head of Heirloom Bronze, said.

The cosplay shop next to the south gate of the old town of Yotkan is popular with young tourists. "There are traditional costumes of various ethnic groups, high-end dresses, etc., and we also provide clothing rental, makeup service, photograph taking and other services." Mengterigele, the person in charge of the cosplay shop, said that they looked through a large number of historical documents and materials from ancient Khotan, and designed and produced more than 30 traditional costumes that reflected ancient Khotan culture.

In addition to exquisite architecture and various business distributions, performing art is also one of the characteristics of the old town of Yotkan.

During the day, ‘Hundred Plays’ are performed in the old town. At night, there are art performances telling stories about the ancient Khotan culture.

It is learned that during May Day holiday, the old town of Yotkan received more than 100,000 tourists. Next, the old town of Yotkan will pinpoint its orientation to a town of culture and history, of food , of song and dance, tourism and vacation, and of folk customs, and enrich its business formats, improve services, and attract more tourists to "check in".

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