Kashgar Sunday Bazaar | Photos & Video
For centuries, the Kashgar Sunday Bazaar in western Xinjiang has been a meeting place for locals, merchants and travelers along the Silk Road. It’s a great place for travelers to wander, purchase souvenirs and people watch.
Although the primary purpose of the bazaar has historically been to sell goods – everything from horses and camels to silk and household items – the reality is that people gather at the Kashgar market for one reason: the exotic and exhilarating environment.
It’s the delicious foods. The friendly villagers. The unrecognizable smells. It’s the symphony of sounds that make these Central Asian bazaars such a joy to visit.
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It used to be that the Silk Road town of Kashgar had both a Sunday bazaar and livestock market that were located together on the eastern edge of town. As the city has grown and swallowed up the market grounds, however, the livestock were moved to a different location on account of their smell.
The bazaar remains in the same location its been for the past couple centuries with views of Kashgar’s Old City nearby. Modernization and increased security have certainly caused changes in Kashgar but the bazaar (and the Kashgar livestock market, for that matter) are still well-worth a visit.
VIDEO | Watch the Kashgar Sunday Bazaar
I’m going to do my best to describe the beauty of Kashgar’s Sunday Bazaar using words and give you a quick glimpse through my camera lens, but aside from visiting in person the best thing I can do for you is transport you there via this video. Give it a watch!
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Kashgar Bazaar | Anything Worth Buying?
As I mentioned earlier, the primary reason to visit the bazaar is for the experience, not the shopping. I always bring enough money to enjoy some good snacks but rarely much more.
I recognize, however, that over the 10 years I’ve lived here I’ve lost my desire to buy the trinkets and souvenirs other travelers might still want. With that in mind, here’s what you can expect to find:
- Cloth/Silk and Clothing: There’s quite a bit of cloth, silk and clothing that is sold at the market. Atlas, the most famous Uyghur pattern in the region, is on full display and usually isn’t that expensive in Kashgar.
- Household Items: From plain pots and pans to ornate serving dishes, there’s plenty of household items on sale.
- Traditional Uyghur Souvenirs: It’s possible to purchase items like miniature dutars (local musical instruments) and a Uyghur knife. Another of my favorite souvenirs is the Uyghur pottery.
- Local Nuts & Dried Fruits: This is an often overlooked but excellent souvenir, in my opinion. You’ll find entire stores dedicated to selling a variety of nuts and dried fruits from all across the Kashgar region.
People Watching at the Bazaar
Of course, my favorite activity to do at the Kashgar Sunday Bazaar is to grab something to drink, sit down and watch the people. If you’ve never done this before, I recommend you give it a try.
Watch the ladies in their “Sunday best”. Watch the old men with their long white beards gather to chat. Enjoy the children playing around.
Here’s just a small sample of what you’ll have the opportunity to see.
How to Visit the Kashgar Sunday Bazaar
If you’re planning to visit the Kashgar Sunday Bazaar, I’d like to share a bit of information to make that easier. The bazaar is located on Aizirete Rd (艾孜热特路) the east side of town, a short walk from the east gate of the Old City.
There are multiple entrances to the bazaar, all of which require a security check. This includes putting your bag through a scanner, walking through a metal detector and possibly getting checked by wand.
Here are the important details to know:
- Bazaar Name: Kashgar Sunday Bazaar 喀什大巴扎 / Kāshi dàbā zhā
- Transportation: Buses 7, 23 or 27. It’s better to walk or take a taxi, though.
- Admission Fee: Free
- Hours: ~10am Beijing time until sunset
Final Thoughts | Kashgar Bazaar
The good news is that despite the name, the Kashgar Sunday Bazaar is open all throughout the week. The busiest and most exciting time is on Sunday morning, but it is possible to visit the Kashgar market any day of the week.
You may not walk out carrying bags full of souvenirs but I guarantee you’ll have a memory that will stick with you much longer.
Of course, there are plenty of other things worth seeing in Kashgar besides just the bazaar.
If you’re looking for a more comprehensive overview of Kashgar, you’ll find everything you need to know – what to see, where to eat and where to sleep – in the FarWestChina Xinjiang travel guide.
Thanks for the informatic article. I`m so anxious to visit the place.
Looking forward for the days to come.Please keep update always.
Josh Summers on October 5th, 2016 at 2:37 pm
Great! I’m glad you enjoyed it, Maria :)
Thanks, Josh, for letting me walk down memory lane!
Josh Summers on October 5th, 2016 at 2:37 pm
Anything for you, Mike ;)
Oh boy… walking down memory lane too, but the wrong way!
Be warned that the Sunday Bazar is closed on the 3 days following Qurban holiday (end of the Ramadan). Now just guess how I know it… :'(
Josh Summers on October 5th, 2016 at 2:38 pm
Oh no! Such a bummer, Remi…so sorry to hear that.
Dear Josh,
Of course your vidéo is best than my six articles, even feautured,
from the : http://jmmartin.unblog.fr/2014/10/20/20-000-kms-en-tricycle-couche-n10-ou-en-passant-par-la-chine/ to the
http://jmmartin.unblog.fr/2014/11/16/20-000-kms-en-tricycle-couche-n10-quinquies-ou-en-passant-par-la-chine/ .and the last one : http://jmmartin.unblog.fr/2014/11/19/20-000-kms-en-tricycle-couche-n10-sexies-ou-en-passant-par-la-chine/
The market of Kashgar (or Kashi) seems fantastic on your article ; a little bit as the one of Marrakech .but in your desire to share the good remembrance of your recollection, you have forgotten to talk about the storm of sand becoming, some times, from the Taklamakan desert and making the atmosphere unbreathable .
If you added the proximity of one nuclear station near the railway station, all is not so idyllic in this part of Xinjiang and it’s not very easy to find out what’s been going on .
Stil your article is better than mines to give the envy to visit this part of the world and the smog isn’t always present as you recall it on purpose ..
Sorry if I have made some errors of syntax but it’s not my own language and I don’t use each day and I write it still less ..
Sincerely yours, J.M. MARTIN
P.S. : Your book seems very attractive .
Thanks for sharing these photos and video. This also gave me a wonderful trip down memory lane, the wonderful splashes of colour are delightful. The place looks so alive. And I can almost smell the foods.
Josh Summers on October 5th, 2016 at 2:38 pm
I’m so glad, Helen. Thanks for your comment!
Great to see the market on a Sunday, I went during the week when it much quieter, but still interesting. We went instead to the Animal market, a terrific local bus ride out of town. That was one of the best things I did in Kashgar. Thanks Josh
Josh Summers on October 5th, 2016 at 2:40 pm
My pleasure, Deirdre – thanks as always for your excellent comment. The animal market really is worth a trip outside of town in my opinion. Very unique environment!
brings back memories of when I was there. I have a great photo of a parking sign with a row of donkeys “parked” there.
Josh Summers on October 5th, 2016 at 2:39 pm
Haha! Yea, lots of funny sights to see at both bazaars :)
Hello Josh, I was very glad that you like Xinjiang.
I am in Xinjiang, engaged in the tourism industry, if you have any need, you can contact me. I can take you to a lot of places you don’t know. They are very beautiful and mysterious.
Josh Summers on December 14th, 2016 at 1:45 pm
Thank you, Ning Wang! Are you located in Urumqi? I’d be happy to hear which tourism agency you work with in Xinjiang.
Hi Josh
I am from Ecuador, South America, I am writing about the Silk Road. I am interested in using, (buying) a couple of photos of you to include in it. How do I have to do, please.
Regards
Tomas
Josh Summers on April 19th, 2017 at 1:13 am
Hi Tomas, thank you for reaching out. I will send you a reply by email.
Thanks for the videos and comments, so helpful and interesting to het a sense of the flavor. My boyfriend and I will be in Kashgar mid-November . I may be there a few days alone. Are there safety precautions you recommend for a Caucasian woman alone there? Thanks!
Josh Summers on September 16th, 2017 at 7:25 am
I wouldn’t be too worried, Carol! It’s common for people to be out in the evenings (although it might be chilly in mid-November) and I’ve never heard of any problems with harassment in Kashgar. There have been many single foreign travelers to pass through there. Enjoy your time!
Read the ist chapter of your travel ap.one thing though, can you post things to the Uk from a Chinese post office.How much…. ?of course thinking about sending a couple of those knives you mention and avoid confiscation.also I’m a stamp collector would like to send some philatelic envelopes home.Are there stampshops… most interesting to get the bi lingual postmarks i’ve seen.Postal rates? Many thanks in anticipation. is there a translation. App for Ughar?
Josh Summers on January 28th, 2018 at 2:13 am
Hi Bernie, make sure to purchase full copy of the Xinjiang travel guide here. You might not be able to send knives back in the mail – it’s just not allowed here in Xinjiang, unfortunately. Other items can be sent back and pricing is relative to size, weight, speed, etc. It’s reasonable to what you’d find in the UK, though. So I’d use that for reference.
Josh, you write many informative articles that I use as a travel resource. May I suggest something? It is important to let travelers know HOW to get to places. Every travel blogger out there writes about a place and shows nice pics. I suggest including a screenshot of attraction locations on a map of Kashgar and the best way to communicate our request to taxi or bus drivers since many travelers may not speak fluent Mandarin and Uyghur when there may be multiple “bazaars” or “livestock markets”.
Josh Summers on July 1st, 2018 at 12:05 am
Thanks for the feedback, Ken! I’m working to update old content, but that type of information is definitely found in my FarWestChina Xinjiang travel guide :)