The place I’m going to talk about today is a very important stop on my trip to Kashgar, Xinjiang. During my trip to Kashgar, this is the place I went to every weekend. I highly recommend it to everyone. A friend traveling to Kashgar.

Its full name is "Kashgar Central and Western Asia International Trade Market", but locals generally call it "Grand Bazaar".

Bazaar

"Bazaar" means "market" in Uyghur. Everything that Kashgar people need for daily life is sold here: pots, pans, Oil, salt, sauce and vinegar, clothing, handicrafts, cosmetics, snacks, ethnic musical instruments...

Kashgar Grand Bazaar not only sells goods for retail, but also wholesales. Many friends who live in Kashgar buy Xinjiang specialties here, such as dates, walnuts, raisins, etc., and then mail them to relatives and friends in the mainland via express delivery.

There are many bazaars in Kashgar, but only this place is called the Grand Bazaar. In Kashgar, when we mention the "Grand Bazaar", we are talking about the Kashgar Central and Western Asia International Trade Market.

Don’t underestimate the word “international”. There are 5 ports in Kashgar, surrounded by 8 neighboring countries. Merchants here ship countless orders to foreign countries every year, and there are also a large number of imported goods.

Today I will take you to see what I feel about the Kashgar Grand Bazaar. In fact, it not only sells various commodities, but also (unintentionally) sells the culture and customs of Kashgar.

Sunday Grand Bazaar

Kashgar Grand Bazaar is the oldest bazaar in the city. It is said that it existed when Kashgar was founded and has a history of more than 2,000 years. . It currently covers an area of ??160,000 square meters, and it takes most of a day to visit it.

The outer circle of the Grand Bazaar is surrounded by open shops. There are many small restaurants selling Kashgar specialties. Then there are several clothing stores selling gorgeous Uyghur dresses.

It is said that this place was once the "largest market in Asia" on the Silk Road. There is a Tuman River in front of the door, and the water never stops.

If you travel to Kashgar, it is recommended that you visit the Grand Bazaar on weekends. In the past years, this Grand Bazaar was only open to the public on Sundays, so it was also called the "Sunday Bus" tie".

Of course, there is no longer the name "Sunday Bazaar", but this sense of ritual still remains in the hearts of Kashgar people for a long time. Every Sunday, children will pester adults to take them. Go to the Grand Bazaar by yourself.

Today, the Kashgar Grand Bazaar has evolved into a "year-round" trade market, but it is still the busiest and busiest on Sundays, with the largest concentration of merchants, vendors and products.

Southern Xinjiang

Every Sunday, women will wear Adelai silk on their bodies, wrap bright gauze scarves on their heads, dress up beautifully, and go shopping ——Such a scene has become increasingly rare in other cities in Xinjiang except for Kashgar in southern Xinjiang.

Kashgar is located in the southwest of Xinjiang. We usually call it Southern Xinjiang. The handicrafts in Kashgar Grand Bazar have strong southern Xinjiang characteristics. They are mainly handmade, and people don't seem to like machine-processed things.

The women who set up street stalls would sell the fabric accessories they hand-sewn on weekdays. They can be used as cushions, table surrounds, and anywhere else in home soft furnishings.

The owner of the flower shop is a little older, but he is clean and decently dressed.

During my travels, every flower shop owner I met was the one who loved life the most. Their expressions showed calmness and contentment, and their faces shone brightly.

The same is true in Kashgar. Selling flowers is not the most profitable profession, but flower sellers are different.

Do you still remember the clay pots made with Kashgar’s “intangible cultural heritage” techniques that I mentioned in my previous travel notes?

In the past years, Kashgar people used pottery pots like this to pack food, water, and storage. Nowadays, pottery pots like this are not commonly used and have become "family heirlooms." I saw the market The merchants on the street used it to carry money and bills.

The cut cakes sold at Kashgar Grand Bazaar are not expensive, a small piece costs 5 yuan.

In the Kashgar Grand Bazaar, you can often see some "nostalgic" things. For example, this earthen soap, which my mother used to wash clothes when I was a child, has not been seen for many years.

Habits

At the entrance of a shop selling large electrical appliances, several Kashgar people gathered together to watch a movie on TV.

Some of them wear Uyghur national costumes, some wear casual clothes, and the children like to wear some "famous brands", with large "a" brand logos or "N" brands printed on their sweatshirts. Standard - even though these "brand-name goods" are all imitations.

In the rapid historical changes in Kashgar, people's preferences have gradually undergone subtle changes.

But what women in Kashgar have always loved most is gorgeous long skirts, so in Kashgar, you can buy all kinds of skirts.

In the picture below, the owner of the women's clothing store had to go out temporarily for something, so he made a simple "door" with his own skirt. Isn't it interesting?

Kashgar is a very interesting place, and people always have their own way of doing things. The most important reason why this city can inherit thousands of years of history and the people's lives are relatively stable and healthy is that everything here can be produced and sold by itself.

For example, the vegetables sold in the Kashgar Grand Bazaar are all grown by local farmers. The eggplant is a slender eggplant, not very pretty, but very delicious; I also just grab a handful of beans. , bundled them randomly and put them on the stall to sell.

Another example is that almost all of the fast-moving consumer goods sold at the Kashgar Grand Bazaar are local brands. The brand is not a big one. The local manufacturers make it simply and the price is relatively cheap. However, the sales volume is very good. The people of Kashgar depend on it for their survival and have long been used to it.

When people meet each other in the market, they will say hello and chat with each other. When traveling in Kashgar, you will feel that the world is very small. After staying in Kashgar for a long time, you will slowly be "assimilated" by these simple and easy-to-learn habits.

I am Sister Dahong, the anchor of the audio radio travel channel, a professional travel player, focusing on niche gameplay and sharing unpopular destinations. Travel is not an attitude, it is life itself.