Sunday Bazaar

Sunday Bazaar

Once a week Kashgar's population swells by 50,000 as people stream in to the Sunday Market C surely the most mind-boggling bazaar in Asia, and not to be missed. By sunrise the roads east of town are a sea of pedestrians, borses, bikes, motorcycles, donkey carts, trucks and belching tuk-tuks, everyone shouting boish-boish! In arenas off the livestock market, men 'test-drive' horses or peer into sheep's mouths. A wonderful assortment of people sit by their rugs and blankets, clothing and boots, hardware and junk, tapes and boom-boxes C and, of course, hats. In fact the whole town turns into a bazaar, with hawkers everywhere. Its wonderfully photogenic so bring twice as much film as you think you might need and get there early to avoid the tour groups.

If the tourist crush gets to you, try the Sunday market at Hotan or even the Monday market in Upal.