Just south of the bustling bazaars and markets of Kashgar lies a peaceful garden and mausoleum built in the honor of an important figure to Kashgar and the region. Yusuf Khass Hajib is the name, an 11th century poet and philosopher originally from a city in Kyrgyzstan under the period of the Kara-Khanid Khanate, a Turkic kingdom that ruled Central Asia in the Middle Ages. As the son of a wealthy and well-known merchant, Yusuf became educated and took on many interests. The culmination of his life's work was Kutadgu Bilig (Blessed Knowledge), the first book written in Muslim Turk language. Unsurprisingly, this work, and Yusuf in general, remains a great source of pride for the Turkic people around the world.

Yusuf was said to have died in Kashgar, in which a mausoleum was later constructed to honor his life. The tomb itself is not large, but beautifully decorated with blue tiles around a dome and tall minaret. A statue of Yusuf stands guard at the entrance, reminding all visitors of the former philosopher and poet. Pilgrims come from around Xinjiang and Central Asia to visit his tomb.