The Sunday livestock market (known locally as the animal bazaar) is one of the most vivid spectacles in Central Asia. Held on the east bank of the Tuman River on the edge of town, it draws farmers, herders, and traders from across the Kashgar oasis and the mountains beyond. Cattle, sheep, donkeys, horses, and camels are led in along dusty tracks and assessed with brisk professional intensity. A successful buyer hauls the purchase home tied to the back of a motorcycle.
Getting there early is essential — the market is already in full swing by 7am and starts to thin out by midday. The chaos is good-natured and the animal smells are considerable. On the same site there is also a general goods market selling tools, textiles, spices, and household items, so you can spend the whole morning wandering between stalls without running out of things to look at. The market also operates on Sundays in a slightly smaller form throughout the week, but Sunday is the one to aim for.