"I
think everyone should
see the Sunday Market in
Kashi (Kashgar) at least
once. I arrived there in
the early morning while
it was still dark. More
and more horses, donkeys
and sheep gradually
entered the market,
followed by farmers and
herdsmen selling
carriages, furniture and
fruits. The growing
procession and rising
noise and excitement
stirred something within
me."
Owing to its favorable
position, countless
merchants from many
parts of the world went
to Kashgar. So it was
also called as "the
pearl on the Ancient
Silk Road". Bazaars are
the focus of activity
nearly on all days. With
the stalls dotted here
and there, the streets
are crowded. Among the
bazaars, some are
comprehensive ones, and
some are specialized
markets selling local
produce, arts and
crafts, garments,
knives, timber, coal or
animals. Kashgar is
famous for its delicate
knives sold in the
streets and by hawkers
in the streets. It is
also a hat-making center
and certain sections of
streets are devoted
entirely to the selling
of hat and beautiful
fur-lined headgear.
Blacksmiths’ shop
line up on each side of
the streets, and the
sound from them can be
heard in the streets.
Colorful painted wooden
saddles is on sale, and
you can pick your dinner
from a choice line-up of
goats’ heads and hoofs.
The west part of the
bazaar is devoted mainly
to Uigur and Kyrgyz,
while the east is
household goods and
hardware. Today,
although most of the
bazaar have disappeared,
but we can still find
the past glory of this
ancient city in the
residual bazaar. |