June 21 Kashgar (Kashi)

Many scooters in special lanes

Got to sleep in this morning! We did not leave hotel until 10! This Hotel, the Tianyuan Hotel is VERY good, they actually have coffee for breakfast. But then again so did the one in Kurpan.

On the bus heading for the animal bazaar. This is where the local people bring their animals for sale. Lots of sheep, goats, cattle, and a few donkeys and horses. They pay a per head fee and then all the sales are made privately.

Animal bazaar

International Bazaar

I stood and watched one guy sell his goat. It must have been a good one as there were several men around and they seemed to be bidding for the goat. I could not see how much was paid. Our guide said that 1 donkey could go for 6000 yuan, $1200 and a sheep for $500. This seems very expensive and contradictory to the extra meat we are getting with our meals and not more expensive.

Then the the Fragrant concubine tombs. This is where one of the emperor's concubines is buried as her family lives in the city. The graveyard is really quite large.

Back to hotel and lunch and then off to international market. This market is huge. Everything you could want. Clothes, leather, nuts, jewelry, hats, shirts pants, shoe maker. The place was packed with people. While we were in the market the wind picked up and really started to blow and then the rain came pouring down! It only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes but enough to flood the streets. It did wash some of the dust out of the air which is nice, but it was still not enough to wash all the dust from the streets.

Mosque for concubine

Back to hotel, for a bit of a rest then happy hour. Nice to sit and talk about the day.
Dinner was held in the old British embassy building. The British left after WWII. It became the India embassy and then a few years ago a restaurant. Very nice building and we had a huge round table in a private room. A farewell dinner for our Chinese guide as he leaves us on the 22 and we get a new guide once we cross the border the Kyrgyzstan.

People's Park Ping pong

After dinner and nice walk through the People's Park just next door the hotel. A huge park and once again kids are out until 11 pm. Although the local consider it 9 pm. Gillian and Liam played ping pong with one of the local people. I think he took pity! Also a lot of badminton being played.