Travel Guide to 6 Major Xinjiang Bazaars
To experience authentic Xinjiang flavor,
The bazaar day in the county town is a good choice,
Mix with the locals in the rural-flavored Grand Bazaar.
These six representative southern Xinjiang bazaars,
You won’t regret it if you’ve been to at least one!
Every step in Kashgar Old Town leads to a bazaar, gathering people from all walks of life…
The grandeur of Hotan Aitika Grand Bazaar on Sundays is even more astonishing!
If you think the jade bazaar is too ‘touristy’,
Then go to Huangdi Town’s cattle and sheep bazaar to broaden your horizons!
The bazaar in Yutian Old Town is not big,
Locals wearing ‘Tailibake’ are the attraction!
The bazaars in the towns around Bachu County sell human warmth…
The grilled chicken and kebab in Cele Qulahama Town are memorable.
Understanding · Starts Here
When you enter southern Xinjiang, you’ll discover,
Every county, town, and village has its own bazaar in the streets and alleys,
It’s a custom, but also a culture,
Bazaar is the market of Xinjiang people,
It’s filled with a steaming atmosphere of life.
Today, I’ll focus on introducing several southern Xinjiang bazaars that you can’t miss!
If you have the chance, you must visit one or two!
Kashgar Grand Bazaar
The full name is the Central and West Asia International Trade Market, also known as East Gate Grand Bazaar, with a total of over 5,000 stalls here.
Divided by item categories, you can find Aidilesi silk, floral hats, Yingjisha daggers, dried fruits, crafts, and more in the souvenir area.
You can also find crafts imported from Pakistan, Turkey, India, and other places.
The periphery of Bazaar is filled with snack stalls, gathering various Xinjiang delicacies. Of course, most are meat-based, so you can take a break if you’re tired of shopping.
All authentic delicacies! Meat-stuffed tripe, rice intestines and lungs, grilled meat, roast whole sheep, kebab, grilled chicken, yogurt, spicy skewers…
If the food at Kashgar Night Market has a more obvious commercial vibe, then the small stalls around Grand Bazaar are more for local consumption, so the prices are more reasonable.
Sunday is the busiest time at Dongbazar, and it’s completely packed. But some localized second-hand stalls only appear on Sundays, so if you’re a market enthusiast, embrace the crowd!
Huangdi Township Cattle and Sheep Bazaar
Can you imagine a bazaar where there are more animals than people? This is the large-scale livestock trading market in Huangdi Township, north of Kashgar City, locally known as the “Cattle and Sheep Bazaar”.
Every Sunday, it will be lively like a carnival (the cattle and sheep bazaar is only held on Sundays and lasts all day, with the busiest period being from 12:30-15:00).
There is no slaughtering on-site, but there is no need to worry about hunger. There are many restaurants on the outskirts, and the giant roast buns at the entrance are very popular among locals. You can give them a try.
Selibuya Town Bazaar
Located in Bachu County, where Uyghurs account for over 94% of the population, here you can not only find all ethnic minority specialties and snacks but also experience authentic ethnic minority customs.
The liveliest area is undoubtedly the food section. Various cooking methods such as grilling, frying, boiling, stewing, and more, with roast meat, pilaf, hand-pulled noodles, ququ (wontons), fried dough twists, and more, all authentic Xinjiang-style.
In addition to these, there are also elderly people who operate traditional crafts. These traditional crafts are now rarely seen, and it is not easy for them to have been preserved until today.
In addition to these, there are also elderly people who operate traditional crafts. These traditional crafts are now rarely seen, and it is not easy for them to have been preserved until today.
Hotan Jade Bazaar
Today’s Hotan Jade Bazaar has long been renowned far and wide, and its meaning far exceeds that of a “jade market”. Rare treasures from all over the world, both ancient and modern, are gathered here.
Sunday is the traditionally agreed-upon day for Uyghurs to go to the market, and the jade bazaar is especially bustling on this day. Small vendors display their acquired jade treasures on stalls and shout sales pitches loudly.
Uyghurs hold a few pieces of jade in their hands, forming small clusters.
Some carry precious stones and jade in their pockets, weaving through the bustling crowd to sell, haggling with fellow vendors, creating a lively atmosphere.
Hotan Atika Grand Bazaar
This is probably the largest open-air bazaar in southern Xinjiang,
Dazzling goods, crowds dressed in diverse attire, and vendors shouting sales pitches one after another…
Isn’t this the southern Xinjiang charm we’re looking forward to? Here, you can find ethnic clothing, local medicinal herbs, dried fruits, various snacks, fresh seasonal fruits…
Since it mainly caters to locals, there is almost no overcharging! And the down-to-earth people are the beautiful scenery here…
Yutian Old Town Bazaar
Visiting the bazaar in Yutian is an experience not to be missed. The lively Sunday bazaar is near Unity Square, and on this day, the surrounding area will be packed with people.
For those who love cuisine, they can head to Xiangba Bazaar Town, meaning the Saturday Market, where the “eating bazaar” featuring Uyghur cuisine is the highlight, and various delicacies will await punctually every weekend!
Love such dusty small-town bazaars,
The inception of every bazaar,
All stemming from the intergenerational transmission of food.
A rural bazaar may have originated from a bread oven at the village intersection,
An ancient shop, passed down through generations…
The hustle and bustle is permeated with a carefree ease of simple living,
Under the bright afternoon sunshine,
Their innocent smiles immerse people in warmth,
Filled with novelty, cuisine, and joy!
Consultation hotline for chartered tours in Xinjiang: 1813962-2229 (same number)