Kashgar Bazaar
Kashgar Bazaar is the largest market in Central Asia, located at the East Gate of Kashgar City, Xinjiang Province. It is also called the Middle and West Asia International Trade Market. It is renowned for its great variety of commodities, which makes it a nice place for visitors to buy products from all over the world.
History of Kashgar Bazaar
Bazaar means the market and trade place in the Uyghur language. In the past time, the bazaar was only held on Sundays, so it was called Sunday Bazaar in the past. Nowadays, it is held every day and attracted traders, merchants, and buyers from neighboring countries such as Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and Tadzhikistan and visitors from all over the world come to make great deals with each other.
The bazaar is particularly busy on Sundays. Originally, Sundays are the market days. Visitors can be easily found that the people here are often in traditional and distinctive costumes and can’t be believed that there are often more than 100,000 people daily from different cities or countries who come to do business with each other.
Kashgar Bazaar enjoys a prime location, which is located alongside the Silk Road. It is an old and flourishing market with a history of more than 2,000 years. The market was already famous and prosperous during Han Dynasty (206 BC- 220 BC).
It is a both famous and integrative international market with a total area of more than 250 mu (41 acres). There are 21 large-scale specialized bazaars, including 4,000 fixed stalls and a Food Street. Visitors can not only buy various commodities such as livestock, local specialties, handicraft articles but also can buy animals like goats and camels.
Highlights
As the largest international in Central Asia, visitors can buy various commodities at a reasonable price made in China and imported from other countries. Wandering at the prosperous market, necessities such as carpets, scarves, hats and traditional costumes and dry fruits such as raisins and Chinese dried jujubes can be found displayed at small stalls.
Vendors here often invite consumers to have a taste of their goods before purchase. The vendors who sell dried fruits have rulers like: “Taste it before you buy it” or “Do not pay if it isn’t sweet”. The vendors are friendly and hospitable, they often sum up the trade at a reasonable price with consumers.
The Style of Transaction
Shopping at the bazaar is an interesting thing. A system of a barter transaction is still used. There is no doubt that shopping at Kashgar Bazaar is an art. Sellers and buyers often do business of livestock silently. They negotiate prices by stretching their fingers to stand for the prices. The bystanders will never know the prices.
Besides, there are wonderful performances both day and night. Visitors can enjoy the shows performed by locals in distinctive costumes after a long time of shopping.
Local Specialties
Grilled mutton, roasted sheep, Shou Zhua Fan (rice eaten with hands), and Nang are the most famous dishes here. Nang, a kind of baked bread, is one of the main dishes of the locals. Dishes here are not only various but also tasty and aromatic.
Nearby Attractions
There are some famous and ancient scenic spots such as Silk Road Museum and Kashgar Old Town around Kashgar Bazaar. Silk Road Museum is a nice place for visitors to get a better understanding of the splendid history of the Silk Road and enjoy the priceless cultural relics.
Kashgar Old Town is a vintage town located inside an oasis. It is famous for its architectural style and ancient earthenware workshops, which visitors can enjoy the dignity and vigor of the old town.
- Location: at the East Gate of Kashgar City, Xinjiang Province
- How to Get There: Take bus No. 1 or 17 from the downtown
- Ticket Price: Free
- Best Time to visit: From August to September