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How did Kashgar’s oasis support farming in an extremely dry climate?

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Mosque in Kashgar, Xinjiang, China, with a large dome and four tall minarets decorated with colorful green, blue, and yellow tiles. — Kashgar A mosque in Kashgar, Xinjiang, China.

Kashgar's oasis supported farming in an extremely dry climate through irrigation from the Kaxgar (Kashgar) River and a system of wells. The oasis is situated in a fertile area with loess and alluvial soils. Despite an average annual precipitation of only about 3 inches (75 mm), the oasis is highly productive, yielding crops such as wheat, corn, barley, rice, and beans, as well as a significant amount of cotton. It is also known for its fruits, including melons, grapes, peaches, apricots, and cherries. The Tarim Basin, where Kashgar is located, is the driest region of Eurasia, with some areas receiving as little as 0.5 inches (12 mm) of precipitation annually. The vegetation in this basin is primarily found along the river and its branches, where shrublike plants and stunted trees grow.12