Kashgar Bazaar

» Kashgar, Xin Jiang

Kashgar Bazaar Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

The bazaar is a uniquely traditional type of trade found in Xinjiang. Bazaar means "market" in the Uygur language. Kashgar Bazaar focuses on the west side of the Aitirxin Square in the downtown. The Kashgar commercial development has its origin, because the ancient Silk Road linked to India and west Asia's Kabul, Teheran, Baghdad and Damascus from here.

East Gate Bazaar

At present, there are more than 20 large scale bazaars in Kashgar, of which the East Gate Bazaar is the biggest in scale, rich in commodities, reasonable price, and most customers' crowd and with good atmosphere. Before 1992, this bazaar only operates business on Sunday; therefore the bazaar was still called "the Grand Sunday Bazaar" until now by foreign tourists and overseas traveling brochures. In fact now this bazaar operates business every day but it is only on Sunday would a person feel the lively vigor and the unprecedented scale of the bazaar. This bazaar also named "International Trade Market of Central and Western Asia" is the largest international trade market in Northwest China, enjoying the fame "Material Fair of Central Asia."

The scale

It is the largest garden aggregate market of Kashgar City and in Xinjiang Province, taking up an area of 250 mu (41 acres), composed of 21 specialized markets including over 4,000 fixed booths and a food street.

The history

It was noted as "the Largest Fair in Asia" in ancient times. As early as in 128 B.C., when Zhang Qian was dispatched to the Western Regions by Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - 220 B.C.), he was surprised to see the prosperous market here, full of dazzling goods and merchants coming from different countries.

Available various goods

At the bazaar, you can enjoy and buy various things such as general merchandise, handicrafts, livestock, local specialties, vegetables, coat, and second hand items as well as many other kinds of things from cattle and horses to needle and thread. Since Khunjerab Pass and Tuergate Port were opened, a large number of foreign merchants have come with a great deal of goods. Thus, arts and crafts of Pakistan, scarves of Turkey, dry fruits of Saudi Arabia all can be bought at a reasonable price here. Moreover, you can experience an ancient peculiar trade form - barter.

What to savour

Strolling around the bazaar, you will strongly attracted by the delicious Xinjiang snacks. Tuck into appetizing meat pies called "Kaobaozi." It is a Kashgar specialty and is great for breakfast. Roasted sheep and Rice with lamb and yellow peppers are perfect lunch. Xinjiang Kebab is irresistible. Hot-from-the-oven Uyghur naan flatbreads, which has over 50 varieties, sprinkled with sesame seed are made for tea. Wheat noodles in a thick spicy soup of chopped mutton, peppers and tomatoes are great for dinner. Some fresh fruits such as guavas, grapes and melons are with a try.

The souvenirs

The bazaar is a souvenir hunter's paradise. Here you can find beautifully woven carpets, clay pottery, jewelry, folk musical instruments. Practically, Kashgar is famous for its hats and knives. Look for handmade doppa hats and exquisitely made Yengsar knives.

Something to remind you

If you don't want to buy the thing you have had a look at because of the price or other reasons, please put your right hand on your heart to say "I think I'll leave it. Thank you just the same."

How to get there

• Bus Route: No.17 and 20

When to visit

• Best time to visit: August and September
• Opening Hours: Whole Day (Sunday is the best time for a visit)

Attractions around » Kashgar, Xin Jiang

Natural Scene

• Lake Karakuli
• Dawakun Desert

Historical Site

• Id Kah Mosque
• Tomb of Abakh Khoja
• Kashgar Old Town

Shopping & Leisure

• Kashgar Bazaar

Kashgar Bazaar Highlights

Bazaar attraction highlights

• Grand Bazaar
• Kashgar Bazaar

city highlights

• Urumqi
• Kashgar

Shopping Street in Great China

• Wangfujing Walking Street
• Tunxi Ancient Street
• Nanjing Road
• Shopping Heaven on Xujiahui Street
• Barkhor Street
• Foreign Tourist Street
• West Street
• Liulichang Culture Street
• Central Street
• Hefang Street
• Grand Bazaar
• Panjiayuan Collection Market
• Quanyechang Bazaar
• Dongtai Road Antique Market
• Shopping on Fuzhou Road
• Kaili Sunday Market
• Wai Chai
• Moslem Street
• Shiban Street
• Kundu Bar Street
• Lhasa Carpet Factory
• Shuyuanmen Street
• Fishermans Wharf
• Ancient Culture Street
• Pudong New Area
• Yandang Road Bar Street
• Kashgar Bazaar
• Jinli Street
• Tian Xia Shua Du
• Xi'an Antique Market
• Stanley Market
• Binhai Road
• Chunxi Road
• Senado Square
• Nanshi Food Street
• Xintiandi Area
• Wenbaozhai Tourist Shopping Center
• Red Market

Kashgar Bazaar FAQ & Travelers's Tips

  Weather

1. When is the best time to go?

  Transportation

1. What is the best transportation for cruising around in Kashgar?

  Shopping

1. Where can I exchange money?

  Other Hints

1. How is post communication in Kashgar?
2. Emergency Services
3. Telephone Service

• When is the best time to go?

  The best time to travel is between August and September, when the sky is blue and there is blossom and fruit on the trees.

  The four seasons in Kashgar are very clear. The average temperature for the year is 11.8 degree C, the average temperature of the coolest month of January is -6 degree C, and in the hottest month, July, the average temperature is 27 degree C. Kashgar is a large periods of sunshine and little rainfall, the average rainfall here is only 121mm, but the evaporation capacity amounts to 2162mm, and on average there are 224 days a year without frost here.

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• What is the best transportation for cruising around in Kashgar?

  Hiring a car before arriving to Kashgar will make your trip easy and securely .Book your cheap Kahgar Car Hire and Car Rental securely online with Lonelychina.
  With price discounts of over 15%, you will find that we are amongst the cheapest carhire sites on the Internet. We compare prices from Hertz, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty and Europcar and quote you the cheapest.

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• Where can I exchange money?

  Money can be changed at Qinibakh Hotel , Wenzhou Hotel (limited to US$, Euro, British Pound, Japanese Yen and HK$) Kashgar Hotel and Seman Hotel. For those who stay in Renmin Hotel and Jindu Mansion , you may change your money at the Bank of China on the North of the Kashgar Peoples Square , it is 5-10 minutes distance on foot (business hours 9:00-16:00, 10:00 - 14:00 Sunday and Saturday). Do not change any money in the street with strangers. If you carry traveler check, you can change it to RMB at the Bank of China , which is not far from all hotels in Kashgar.

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• How is post communication in Kashgar?

  The main post office is located on Renmin Road the center of Kashgar (Ostangboyi end of Handcrafts street), you can send card, letters from the Post Office and your hotels as well. Post cards ,stamps and tourist books can be found in Kashgar Post Office.

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• Emergency Services

  • Police 110
  • Fire 119
  • Ambulance 120
  • Foreigners Section of the Kashgar Security Bureau 2822044
  • Tourist Hotline 2833111
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• Telephone Service

  • Local Telephone Information 114
  • Time Check 117
  • Weather Information 121
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