Kashgar Sunday Market: Central Asia in China

The Kashgar Sunday Market is one of the most legendary bazaars in Central Asia. For centuries, traders from across the region have gathered to buy and sell livestock, goods, and produce. Today, despite modernization, the market retains its exotic atmosphere.

Livestock Market

The livestock market, held in a vast dusty field outside the city, is the most authentic experience. Sheep, goats, camels, horses, and cattle are bought and sold using a complex system of hand signals, negotiation, and verbal agreement. Uygur farmers in traditional dress drive their animals from distant farms. The scene is unchanged from centuries past.

Trade Goods Market

After the livestock market, the main trade goods market offers everything from Chinese electronics to Turkish textiles, Russian fur hats to Afghan carpets. Bargaining is expected and enjoyable. The variety of goods reflects Kashgar position on the Silk Road crossroads.

Food Stalls

Food stalls at the market serve Uygur cuisine: lamb kebabs, hand-pulled noodles, pilaf, and nan flatbread baked in clay ovens. The food is authentic and cheap. Try the lamb skewers and the Uyghur version of pilaf.

Cultural Experience

The market is primarily a Uygur experience. Listen to the Uygur language, watch the traditional dress, and observe the customs. The market offers a window into a culture that is quite different from Han Chinese society.

Practical Information

The market is held every Sunday, starting early and winding down by mid-afternoon. Arrive before 10 AM for the most active livestock trading. Kashgar is accessible by air and train from Urumqi. Allow a full morning for the market visit.