Moyu Old Town Scenic Area is located in Kuonaxiehaier Community, Qinaibage Subdistrict, Moyu County, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is 1 kilometer from the Moyu County Government, 25 kilometers from Hotan Airport, 3 kilometers from Moyu Railway Station, and adjacent to National Highway 315, enjoying very convenient transportation. In 2020, it was rated as a National 4A-level scenic area, and in 2021, it was rated as an autonomous-region-level tourism and leisure district. The scenic area has distinctive features, with traditional Uygur residential architecture and folk customs as its main characteristics. It is a model of the perfect combination of the historical culture of the ancient Silk Road. The buildings here are unique, with prominent styles. The streets and alleys crisscross, the layout is flexible and varied, and the winding paths lead to secluded spots. There are a total of 59 shops in the old town. The scenic area was built with an investment of 35 million yuan from Beijing aid to Xinjiang and covers an area of about 10,000 square meters.
Historical Culture
Moyu Old Town was built during the Qing Dynasty. It is a typical mosque-style architectural complex and preserves a large number of ancient buildings from the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China period. It retains many Islamic cultural relics, such as mosques and ancient tombs, and has high historical value and research value. In addition, the old town also displays the local ethnic lifestyle and traditional customs, providing visitors with the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of local culture and history. This is also the place where the "Nasreddin Hodja stories" took place, and it has rich historical and cultural connotations.
Main Attractions
Central Block
The first-floor storefront shops in the central block sell various representative specialty tourism products, such as Atlas silk, Uygur flower hats, carpets, wood carvings, jade, and more. They are dazzling and varied, and visitors can shop here with confidence and appreciate the local unique folk customs.
Bulak Night Market
The Bulak Night Market is brilliantly lit and gathers all kinds of delicious food. There is the famously named and highly nutritious "Three Eggs and One Star" (roasted chicken eggs, roasted goose eggs, and roasted pigeon eggs), watermelon roasted meat that stimulates the taste buds at a glance, red willow skewer roasted meat, roasted squab, roasted whole lamb, specialty roasted fish, and more. There is also roasted pumpkin known as the "longevity melon and fruit," delicious freshly squeezed pomegranate juice, tasty yogurt zongzi, seasonal fruit and vegetable platters, and so on, with a total of 166 kinds of food. Visitors can enjoy song and dance performances, experience folk customs, and enjoy food all at the same time.
Uygur-Style Home Visit Site
Stepping into the uniquely distinctive Uygur-style home visit site, visitors can drink a cup of Uygur herbal tea brewed by local residents and admire the uniquely characteristic Uygur family courtyard, whose decoration and furnishings are uniquely styled. Visitors can also sit cross-legged and taste a bowl of delicious homemade noodles or a delicate and tasty plate of pilaf, while dancing a "Meshrep" with the warm and hospitable Uygur hosts and drinking a cup of "Museles," enhancing ethnic affection and friendship.
Old Town Past and Present Exhibition Hall
The Old Town Past and Present Exhibition Hall is extremely intricate in architectural carving, with tall mulberry trees in front of the gate, highlighting Moyu County's characteristic as the hometown of mulberry bark paper.
Food
Three Eggs and One Star
Includes roasted chicken eggs, roasted goose eggs, and roasted pigeon eggs. It is nutritious and uniquely flavored.
Watermelon Roasted Meat
Lamb is placed inside a watermelon and roasted. The lamb is tender and carries the fresh fragrance of watermelon.
Red Willow Skewer Roasted Meat
Lamb is skewered on red willow branches and roasted. The meat fragrance carries the aroma of red willow, giving it a distinctive flavor.
Roasted Squab, Roasted Whole Lamb
The outer skin is golden and crispy, and the meat is tender and juicy, full of aroma.
Specialty Roasted Fish
Made with fresh local fish, specially marinated and then roasted, with a delicious taste.
Roasted Pumpkin
Known as the "longevity melon and fruit," it is sweet, fragrant, and soft after roasting.
Yogurt Zongzi
Zongzi paired with yogurt has a sweet-and-sour taste and is refreshing and greasy-relieving.
Freshly Squeezed Pomegranate Juice
Made by pressing fresh pomegranates. It has a rich taste and is nutritious.
Tickets：
Free and open to the public.
Opening Hours：
The scenic area is open all day.
Tour Route：
Visitors can enter from the scenic area entrance and first stroll through the central block to feel the lively commercial atmosphere and buy specialty tourism products; then go to the Uygur-style home visit site to experience the local lifestyle and customs; then visit the Old Town Past and Present Exhibition Hall to learn about the historical changes of the old town; and in the evening come to the Bulak Night Market to enjoy food and song and dance performances.
Transportation：
Plane: 25 kilometers from Hotan Airport. After arriving at the airport, you can take a taxi to the scenic area.
Train: 3 kilometers from Moyu Railway Station. After getting off, you can take a taxi to reach the scenic area.
Bus: Take the bus to Moyu at the "Grand Bazaar" station in Hotan. The fare is about 3 yuan per person. After arriving in Moyu, transfer to a local bus or take a taxi to the scenic area.
Self-driving: You can reach Moyu County via National Highway 315, and then follow navigation to the scenic area. The scenic area is 1 kilometer from National Highway 315.
Must-Visit Attractions：
Central Block: Rich in specialty products and a good place to experience folk customs and go shopping.
Bulak Night Market: Many foods, as well as song and dance performances, allowing a comprehensive experience of the lively local atmosphere.
Uygur-Style Home Visit Site: An in-depth understanding of the Uygur lifestyle and cultural traditions and an experience of unique ethnic customs.
Travel Suggestions：
It is recommended to spend half a day to one day sightseeing, and you can choose attractions to visit according to your own interests and time arrangements.
When tasting food, you may choose an appropriate amount according to personal taste to avoid waste.
When buying specialty products, you can bargain appropriately, but pay attention to respecting local business customs.
When participating in folk activities, respect local customs and religious beliefs.
Notes：
Respect local religious beliefs and customs, and do not violate taboos at will.
Pay attention to protecting the environment, do not litter, and keep the scenic area clean and tidy.
When communicating with local residents, try to use polite language. If there is a language barrier, you can communicate through body language or mobile translation software.
Summer temperatures are relatively high, so take good sun protection and heatstroke prevention measures; winter temperatures are relatively low, so pay attention to keeping warm.