Stepping into the dream of One Thousand and One Nights

As the morning light breaks over the ancient city of Kashgar, the earth-toned city walls are soaked in the shadows of grape arbors. At the corner, the hand drum of a Balangzi awakens the alleyways, and the aroma of baked buns drifts from colorful doors. The blue-green domes are set against the blue sky, steam rises from the copper kettle in the old teahouse, and the floral headscarf of a Uyghur grandmother brushes past the brick carvings. Every step treads on the folds of stories. No need to chase time, just stop to smell the breeze at the spice stall, watch the play of light and shadow in the century-old alleys. It turns out fairy tales don’t need to be read— walking into Kashgar is like stepping into a real-life version of One Thousand and One Nights.