Hotan carpets occupy a distinct place in the Central Asian rug tradition: wool pile knotted on cotton warp, with a palette of deep reds, blues, and ivories, and designs that are more geometric and less complex than those of the carpet-making centres further west. The designs derive from local Uyghur tradition and include motifs — pomegranates, eight-pointed stars, interlocking meanders — that reflect both Islamic influences and older Silk Road symbolism.
Several workshops in the old city produce genuine handmade carpets using locally-sourced wool and traditional vegetable or mineral dyes. The production is slow: a medium-sized carpet takes several months to complete, and the knot density in quality pieces is high enough to produce a surface with significant texture. Watching the women who work the looms — knotting, cutting, and combing with practiced speed — gives a sense of the labour involved.
Prices here are significantly lower than in tourist cities, and the quality at the better workshops is demonstrably higher than the mass-produced pieces sold in the bazaars of Kashgar. If you are in the market for a serious Uyghur carpet, Hotan is where to buy it.