A to Z of Must-Do Travel Experiences – K for ‘Kashgar Markets’
{ Tags: Kashgar, Kashgar Bazaar, Kashgar Livestock Market, Kashgar Markets \ Jun14 }
Kashgar may be a city in China, but shares little in common with the rest of the country. For starters, the majority of the people here are Muslim Uyghurs, who bear closer resemblance to European and middle-eastern people than to the Han Chinese. Also due to its historical position as one of the major stopover points on the Silk Road, the city has adopted a mix of cultures from the surrounding kingdoms. The cuisine is more typical of Central Asia, than traditional Chinese with lamb kebabs and naan commonly found throughout the city.
Kashgar is home to one of the oldest markets in the world, and its Sunday bazaar has run continuously from as far back as the Roman times. Its exoticness is due to several factors such as its wide variety of produce, massive size, as well as the fact that it’s located in a remote location surrounded by mountain ranges and deserts. The Karakorum and Pamir mountain ranges border Kashgar on three sides, and access from Pakistan is through a 5,600m pass, which is probably one of the highest roads in the world. On the other end, the 1,000-kilometre long Taklamakan desert separates Kashgar from the next nearest town.
Every Sunday, the market attracts some 50,000 to 100,000 traders coming in on horseback, donkey carts, as well as any form of motorised transportation. Products that can be found here include blankets, fabrics, carpets and fruit. The most interesting though is the livestock market, where you can buy sheep and even test-drive horses.