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How do Kashgar rugs differ from rugs made in Hotan and Yarkand?

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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.

Distinguishing between Kashgar, Khotan, and Yarkand rugs can be challenging, as they were historically marketed collectively as "Samarkands". However, some subtle differences exist.12

Kashgar rugs tend to exhibit characteristics influenced by Persian craftsmanship, particularly in their draftsmanship and border patterns. They also tend to use darker outlines around their various design elements more frequently than rugs from Khotan or Yarkand.1

Khotan rugs, while also influenced by Persian carpets, often incorporate Chinese details and Central Asian design schemes, along with vivid colors. Their decoration commonly features lattice designs with clusters of rosettes, or other patterns like triple-medallion schemes and pomegranate vines.3