The Afaq Khoja Mausoleum

The Afaq Khoja Mausoleum near Kashgar in Xinjiang. Afaq Khoja was an important religious and political leader in the 1600’s who died in 1694 and his tomb is considered to be one of the holiest sites in Xinjiang. He was a Naqshbandi Sufi as well as being a ruler and his family exerted influence in the region until the mid 1900's. 5 generations of them are buried in and around the Mausoleum, which is on the outskirts of Kashgar. Reminiscent of Central Asian Architecture, in particular the Domes of Khiva and some of the buildings in Samarkhand, the Afaq Khoja Mausoleum was built in a style similar to the Taj Mahal. Which was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Sufism is still practised in Xinjiang, as in other parts of Central Asia, so as well as being a tourist destination the Afaq Khoja Mausoleum is visited by Sufis too. As with other Autonomous Regions in China, Xinjiang has experienced a great deal of internal unrest since the late 1980’s, with a number of demonstrations against Chinese rule. 200 people died in Urumchi on 5th June 2009 and 35 died around the 4th Anniversary of this, in June 2013. A combination of both Uighur and Han Chinese. Kashgar, Xinjiang Province, China - 21st August 1993. (Photo by Richard Manning/Getty Images)