Symphony of the Oasis: The Living Legacy of Xinjiang’s Musical Instrument Village

1.The Musical Instrument: Village, officially known as Towake Wukusake Village in Wukusake Township, is a cultural treasure located approximately 15 kilometers west of Kashgar in Shufu County. This village is celebrated as the "No. 1 Village of Xinjiang Ethnic Musical Instruments," serving as the primary center for the production and preservation of Uyghur musical traditions. For over 150 years, the village has maintained a legacy of craftsmanship, with families like the Abuduaini lineage passing down the secrets of instrument making through five generations.

The village atmosphere is defined by the scent of drying mulberry and apricot wood and the rhythmic sounds of carving and tuning. Walking through its alleys, visitors can see almost every household engaged in the creation of iconic instruments such as the Dutar, Rawap, Tanbur, and Gijak. These instruments are not merely decorative items but functional masterpieces used in the world-renowned Twelve Muqam and local Meshrep performances.

2.At the heart of the village lies the Xinjiang: Ethnic Musical Instrument Museum, which houses hundreds of varieties of instruments, from common folk pieces to rare historical artifacts. The village offers a "living museum" experience where travelers can witness the entire production process—from raw wood to polished, silk-stringed instruments adorned with intricate bone and wood inlays. Beyond the workshops, the village is a vibrant cultural hub where traditional music and spontaneous dance performances bring the history of the Silk Road to life for every visitor.