Old Town attracts new entrepreneurial spirit

Tourists watch a dance performance in the Old Town in Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. MA KAI/XINHUA

"We can see that time has left different marks on our clothes, and different cultures have blended. The cultures of East and West have met and melded in Kashgar, an important trading post on the ancient Silk Road, and that shows in the evolution of local fashion," Mewlan said.

He said his inspiration comes from the Old Town itself. When he wanders down the winding alleyways the shape of a window, the patterns on a carpet or the intricate carving on a wooden ornament can be his muse.

"The more I get to know about the history of the city and the beautiful stories about it, the more I come to love it," he said.

Mardan, Mewlan and other young Uygur entrepreneurs in the Old Town often get together and discuss how they can bring out the modern side of Uygur tradition and help people learn more about it.

"The Old Town is a platform for us to share our values and ideas. It inspires us in the exact same way it has inspired the traditional craftsmen of pottery, bronzeware and musical instruments for generations," Mardan said.

"The Old Town is small, but it's also big enough to carry our ambitions."