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Photo Essay

Building on the past : As Kashgar modernizes, Uyghur craftsmen keep traditions alive

Building on the past
Generations of Uyghur traders have made livings by selling their goods in Kashgar, historically the greatest market city along the Silk Road. While tourism has become a more dominant source of income, traders can still be found throughout the old town.
Generations of Uyghur traders ha...
To curry favour with the Muslim majority Uyghurs living in the resource-rich Xinjiang region in China, the central government remodelled Kashgar’s old town, reinforcing its mud-brick buildings and widening its tortuous alleyways. But at what cost to Uyghur identity? Owing to its climate and dominan
To curry favour with the Muslim ...
Chinese flags wave from renovated buildings in the old town, reinforcing the sense of nationalism the central government hopes to instil in the restive Uyghur capital.
Chinese flags wave from renovate...
Horses, donkeys and camels remain central to life in Kashgar; here, ornamental saddles are sold on an old town corner.
Horses, donkeys and camels remai...
Uyghur musicians perform for guests at the Ostang Boi teahouse, where Uyghur men have traditionally met to discuss politics and business.
Uyghur musicians perform for gue...
A butcher disassembles livestock in the old town, providing Uyghur families and restaurants with the beef and mutton that go into such staple dishes as plov, or rice pilaf.
A butcher disassembles livestock...
An instrument maker tunes a dutar, a long-necked lute with two strings; long ago, before the introduction of silk, the strings were made from goat intestines.
An instrument maker tunes a duta...
Traditional instruments such as the rawap, khushtar and satar produce the dulcet, somnolent folk music that remains popular in Uyghur communities.
Traditional instruments such as ...
An instrument maker named Muhammad puts the finishing touches on a tembur in his workshop. Muhammad also wears a red badge on his sleeve, signifying he is part of the “community watch”, a form of self-policing initiated by the central government.
An instrument maker named Muhamm...
At the old town night market, a Uyghur vendor nibbles from piles of raisins, dates and nuts. To enter the night market, Uyghurs must pass through a series of police checks, including metal detectors, ID checks and frisking; foreigners and Han Chinese can freely enter. 77 Elite+ Magazine www.eliteplu
At the old town night market, a ...
While much of the old town has been renovated, some parts have not. The crumbling walls of these mud-brick homes represent some of the last centuries-old architecture in Kashgar.
While much of the old town has b...
The 4.25-square-kilometre old town is no longer at risk of disappearing, at least physically. The lives within its walls, however, have undoubtedly changed.
The 4.25-square-kilometre old to...
Uyghur pottery, a practice passed down in families for more than 600 years, now faces extinction, as industrialized ceramics have begun to render the art form obsolete.
Uyghur pottery, a practice passe...

David Noyes 2 Posts

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