Urumqi Bazaar
Posted by Rebecca Lynch on Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Within the Uighur district of Urumqi is the International Bazaar, filled with souvenirs of all kinds from carpets, traditional costume and scarves, to brass ornaments, swords and knives, along with antiques and paintings. Unfortunately the majority of the stalls are no longer the original traders who once filled the market, the stalls now aim to please tourist groups looking for gifts, however there is still a traditional feeling with the local Uighur shops and restaurants lining the surrounding streets. There is still a glimpse of the craftsmanship in such things like the swords handle carvings and ornamental brass works. The antique stalls held historic ceramics, war time pieces and decorative ornaments.
One of the highlights within the bizarre for me was definitely the talking bird ... as me and Francesca walked past one of the antique stalls, we heard a very odd 'ni hao' (Chinese for 'hello') from behind us, we turned round to be met by a bird. At first I was questioning whether it was real or robotic, but after standing for about 15 minutes bemused by this bird, we decided definitely real, no mistaking it. We tried a few English words with it, but didn't get as much of a response.
Outside the bizarre stood a replica of the Bukhara Minaret in Uzbekistan, a tall rounded tower, with a stone carving of traditional music and dance wrapped around its base. The architecture of the Minaret and Bazaar were of great contrast to the rest of the city. The sandy colored patterned brick work and the buildings curves made a change to the usual square buildings with pollution-stained plain paint. The mosque which poked out from behind the Bazaar walls, with its pillars and domed rooftops, adding to the cultural buzz of the Bazaar.
I've still not made it to the real camels, but there was a couple of camel statues within the Bazaar square, time for a quick pic. before heading off to catch my bus. Hopefully by the end of the year i'll have a picture with a real camel, but the statue will have to do for now.
One of the highlights within the bizarre for me was definitely the talking bird ... as me and Francesca walked past one of the antique stalls, we heard a very odd 'ni hao' (Chinese for 'hello') from behind us, we turned round to be met by a bird. At first I was questioning whether it was real or robotic, but after standing for about 15 minutes bemused by this bird, we decided definitely real, no mistaking it. We tried a few English words with it, but didn't get as much of a response.
Outside the bizarre stood a replica of the Bukhara Minaret in Uzbekistan, a tall rounded tower, with a stone carving of traditional music and dance wrapped around its base. The architecture of the Minaret and Bazaar were of great contrast to the rest of the city. The sandy colored patterned brick work and the buildings curves made a change to the usual square buildings with pollution-stained plain paint. The mosque which poked out from behind the Bazaar walls, with its pillars and domed rooftops, adding to the cultural buzz of the Bazaar.
I've still not made it to the real camels, but there was a couple of camel statues within the Bazaar square, time for a quick pic. before heading off to catch my bus. Hopefully by the end of the year i'll have a picture with a real camel, but the statue will have to do for now.