Kashgar Prefecture (Uyghur: شىنجاڭ قەشقەر), a prefecture-level administrative region under the jurisdiction of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, is located in the southwest of Xinjiang. The terrain slopes from southwest to northeast, surrounded by mountains on the west, south, and east. It has a warm temperate continental arid climate with four distinct seasons, very little rainfall, and high evaporation. Its total area is 162,000 square kilometers. As of March 2024, Kashgar Prefecture administers 1 county-level city, 10 counties, and 1 autonomous county. As of July 2024, Kashgar Prefecture had a resident population of 4,629,800.
On January 11, 1971, the Kashgar Special District was renamed Kashgar Prefecture. Kashgar Prefecture, formerly known as "Shule," "Renru," and "Shufu," encompassed ancient Shule (present-day Kashgar City, Shufu County, Shule County, and Jiashi County), Puli (present-day Tashkurgan), Shache, Yinai (present-day Yingjisha and Akto), Wuhezhai (southern Tashkurgan), and Xiye (present-day Yecheng). As a vital transportation hub on the ancient Silk Road, Kashgar was an international trading port bustling with merchants from both China and abroad. It is also a national historical and cultural city in Xinjiang, showcasing the unique characteristics and essence of Uyghur folk customs, culture, art, architectural style, and traditional economy. In 2010, the Kashgar Economic Development Zone was approved as a special economic zone.