Rush to the south: Urumqi - Aksu - Kashgar

The article presents some results of the examination of the museum collections in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China during the scientific trip in November 2014 mainly focusing on the museums of Southern Xinjiang (in Kashgar and Aksu). Traditional Uyghur ethnic culture is best preserved in Kashgar, especially in Old City (the historic centre of the town). However, the Museum of Kashgar Prefecture does not correspond to that high level of Old City’s tourist sites. The exposition remains in desolation, showcases are covered by a thick coat of dust. Most of the exhibits are copies, not the original objects. The scarcely found originals have no attribution whatsoever. Exactly the opposite is the Museum of Aksu Prefecture which occupies a new beautiful building. The permanent exhibition includes three sections: «The History and Culture of Kucha Kingdom», «Duolang Folk Culture» and «Ancient Money of Xinjiang», which represent archaeological, ethnographic and numismatic collections respectively. The most interesting are the objects dated back to the periods of late Antiquity (Han epoch) and early Middle Ages (Southern and Northern Dynasties, Sui, partly Tang) which indicate intercultural interaction along the southern part of Silk Road. For example, a ceramic figurine of a monkey with a cub. But the most fruitful was the study in the Museum of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in Urumqi, which contains exhibits of different historical periods from all parts of Xinjiang region: wooden and stone vessels, wooden and ceramic figurines, etc.