The Kashgar oasis extends for many kilometres in all directions from the city, fed by irrigation channels bringing snowmelt down from the Pamir and Karakoram ranges. Renting a bicycle and riding out into the flat, green farmland is one of the most rewarding ways to spend an afternoon. The roads are quiet, the villages are genuine, and the locals are curious and friendly without being intrusive.
Most guesthouses can arrange a bicycle rental. Head west or south from the city centre to get away from the traffic quickly. Along the way you will pass stands of poplar trees, small shrines marked with coloured flags, and clusters of mudbrick farmhouses. There are a few mazars (saints' tombs) in the villages that are worth pausing at. The terrain is flat and distances are manageable — you can get convincingly into the countryside and back in an hour.