The name of the district is the English translation of the Chinese translation of the Uyghur name "Koziqiyabixi". Over 1000 years ago, Uyghurs discovered that the hill contains the right kind of clay for making pottery. This led to the first Uyghur settlement in this area. Today there are more than 640 families or more than 4000 people living in this district, which is a rare example of a well-preserved, Silk Road Islamic city quarter. The district contains many family-run workshops making pottery, fabrics and engaged in other crafts.

The Koziqiyabixi district is lucky to belong to the 15% of the Old City which is not being demolished, and kept as a tourist attraction. Others are not so fortunate (see my other galleries)