Urban space use and the perception of Kaxgar’s old town (P.R. China) are shaped by an intertwined process of material and social, perceived and imagined, politicized and economic realities. Based on ethnographic fi eldwork, this article discusses diff erent approaches to the construction and transformation of the old town space. In particular, it highlights interpretations of ethnic marginality, gentrifi cation, and touristic representation as expressions of individual and social positionings in the built environment.